Worm reduction gear and electric power steering apparatus

ABSTRACT

A torsion coil spring  30  applies an elastic force to a worm shaft  29  in a direction towards a worm wheel, via a pre-load pad  70 . The pre-load pad  70  restricts displacement in relation to the widthwise direction, by one side face portion of a holder  61  fixed to a gear housing  22 . Due to the elastic deformation of the pre-load pad  70  itself based on the elastic force of the torsion coil spring  30 , the side face of the pre-load pad  70  is abutted against the one side face portion of the holder  61 , so that a gap between the pre-load pad  70  and the one side face portion is minimized. As a result, the occurrence of a teeth fitting noise in the worm reduction gear  16  is suppressed.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The worm reduction gear and electric power steering apparatus accordingto the present invention is assembled for example in a vehicle steeringsystem, and is used for reducing the force necessary for a driver tooperate a steering wheel, by using the output from an electric motor asauxiliary power source. Other than the electric power steeringapparatus, the worm reduction gear according to the present invention,can also be used in combination with an electric linear actuatorassembled into various types of mechanical equipment such as an electricbed, an electric table, an electric chair, a lifter and so on.

BACKGROUND ART

As an apparatus for reducing the force necessary for a driver to operatea steering wheel when applying a steering angle to the steering wheels(normally the front wheels, except for special-purpose vehicles such asa fork lift), a power steering apparatus is widely used. For such apower steering apparatus, an electric power steering apparatus whichuses an electric motor as the auxiliary power source is recentlybecoming popular. The electric power steering apparatus has theadvantage that it can be smaller and lighter compared to a hydraulicpower steering, control of the magnitude (torque) of the auxiliary poweris easy, and there is minimum power loss for the engine. FIG. 46 is aschematic diagram showing heretofore known basic components of such anelectric power steering apparatus.

Provided on an intermediate portion of a steering shaft 2 which rotatesbased on the operation of a steering wheel 1 is a torque sensor 3 whichdetects the direction and magnitude of a torque applied from thesteering wheel 1 to the steering shaft 2, and a reduction gear 4. Theinput side of the reduction gear 4 is connected to the intermediateportion of the steering shaft 2, and the output side of the reductiongear 4 is connected to a rotation shaft of an electric motor 5.Furthermore, a detection signal from the torque sensor 3, together witha signal indicating vehicle speed, are input to a controller 6 forcontrolling the power to the electric motor 5. For the reduction gear 4,conventionally a worm reduction gear having a large lead angle andhaving reversibility in relation to the transmission direction of thedrive force, is generally used. That is to say, a worm wheel serving asa rotation output receiving member is fixed to an intermediate portionof the steering shaft 2, and a worm of a worm shaft being the rotationforce applying member, connected to the rotation shaft of the electricmotor 5, is meshed with the worm wheel.

When in order to apply a steering angle to steering wheels 14, thesteering wheel 1 is operated and the steering shaft 2 rotates, thetorque sensor 3 detects the rotation direction and torque of thesteering shaft 2 and outputs a signal indicating this detection value tothe controller 6. In consequence, the controller 6 supplies power to theelectric motor 5 so that the steering shaft 2 is rotated in the samedirection as the rotation direction based on the steering wheel 1, viathe reduction gear 4. As a result, the tip end portion (the bottom endportion in FIG. 46) of the steering shaft 2 is rotated with a torquewhich is larger than the torque based on the force applied from thesteering wheel 1.

The rotation of the tip end portion of the steering shaft 2 istransmitted to an output shaft 10 of a steering gear 9 via universaljoints 7 and an intermediate shaft 8. The input shaft 10 then rotates apinion 11 constituting the steering gear 9, and moves a tie rod 13 backand forth via a rack 12, to thereby apply a desired steering to thesteering wheels 14. As will be apparent from the above description, thetorque transmitted from the tip end poriton of the steering shaft 2 viathe universal joint 7 to the intermediate shaft 8 is greater than thetorque applied from the steering wheel 1 to the base end portion (thetop end portion in FIG. 46) of the steering shaft 2, by the amount ofthe auxiliary power which is applied from the electric motor 5 via thereduction gear 4. Consequently, the force necessary for the driver tooperate the steering wheel when applying a steering angle to thesteering wheels 14 is reduced by this auxiliary power amount.

In the case of the electric power steering apparatus as described abovewhich has generally been used up to now, as the reduction gear 4provided between the electric motor 5 and the steering shaft 2, a wormreduction gear is used. However, in this worm reduction gear, there isunavoidable backlash. This backlash becomes larger with increase indimensional errors and assembly errors of the worm shaft, the wormwheel, and the bearings etc. for supporting these members, being thecomponents of the worm reduction gear. Furthermore, if a large backlashexists, the teeth surfaces of the worm wheel and the worm stronglycollide with each other, with the likelihood of generation of a gratingteeth hitting noise.

For example, if the vibrational load due to roughness of the road istransmitted from the vehicle wheel side to the steering shaft 2, thendue to the presence of this backlash, a grating teeth hitting noise isgenerated. Moreover, due to the collision of the teeth surfaces of theworm wheel and the worm, the operating feeling when steering thesteering wheel is impaired.

In order to address this, it has been considered to reduce the backlashby appropriate assembly, taking into consideration the dimensionalaccuracy of the components of the worm reduction gear. However, ifbacklash is reduced in this way, management of dimensional accuracy, andthe assembly operation becomes troublesome, and leads to increased cost.Furthermore, recently there has been a trend to increase the auxiliarypower. Therefore the friction between the teeth surfaces of the wormwheel and the worm is increased so that backlash is more likely tooccur. If the teeth hitting noise based on this backlash leaks into thecabin space of the vehicle, it is annoying to the occupants.

The following Patent Documents 1 to 4 are prior art documents related tothe present invention.

[Patent Document 1] Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No.2000-43739.

[Patent Document :2] Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No.2002-37094

[Patent Document 3] Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No.2001-322554

[Patent Document 4] Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No.2002-67992

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

In view of the above problems, the present invention has been inventedso as to suppress the generation of the grating teeth hitting noise atthe meshing parts between the worm wheel and the worm shaft, with a lowcost construction.

The worm reduction gear of the present invention comprises: a wormwheel, a worm shaft and an elastic body, wherein the elastic bodyapplies an elastic force to the worm shaft in a direction towards theworm wheel.

In the case of the worm reduction gear and the electric power steeringapparatus incorporating this worm reduction gear of the presentinvention, as described above, the elastic body applies an elastic forceto the worm shaft in a direction towards the worm wheel. Therefore, apre-load can be applied to the meshing parts between the worm wheel andthe worm shaft with a low cost construction, and the generation of thegrating teeth hitting noise at these meshing parts can be suppressed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a first example of the present invention partiallysectioned.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line A-A of FIG. 1 withsome parts omitted.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the left half portion ofFIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the right half portion ofFIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the right half portion ofFIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line B-B of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 shows a demounted combination of a pre-load pad and a worm shaftviewed from the tip end side of the worm shaft.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a demounted combination of a holder, thepre-load pad, and a torsion coil spring viewed from the right side ofFIG. 5.

FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a view similar to FIG. 7 showing a second example of thepresent invention.

FIG. 11 shows a pre-load pad used in a third example of the presentinvention.

FIG. 12 is an exploded perspective view of the holder, pre-load pad, andtorsion coil spring.

FIG. 13 is a view similar to FIG. 6, showing a fourth example of thepresent invention.

FIG. 14 shows a demounted combination of the holder, the pre-load pad,and the torsion coil spring used in the fourth example.

FIG. 15 shows an example of a construction where an electric motor and aworm reduction gear are provided in the vicinity of a pinion.

FIG. 16 shows an example of a construction where the electric motor andthe worm reduction gear are provided in the vicinity of a sub pinion.

FIG. 17 is a view similar to FIG. 3, showing an example of an electricmotor of a brushless construction.

FIG. 18 shows a fifth example of the present invention partiallysectioned.

FIG. 19 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken along the line C-Cof FIG. 18.

FIG. 20 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line D-D of FIG. 19.

FIG. 21 is a cross-sectional view of the electric motor.

FIG. 22 is an enlarged fragmental view of FIG. 19.

FIG. 23 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line E-E of FIG. 22.

FIG. 24 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line F-F of FIG. 22.

FIG. 25 is a view similar to FIG. 23, showing a sixth example of thepresent invention.

FIG. 26 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line G-G of FIG. 25.

FIG. 27 is a view similar to FIG. 25, showing a seventh example of thepresent invention.

FIG. 28 is a view similar to FIG. 22, showing an eighth example of thepresent invention.

FIG. 29 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line H-H of FIG. 28.

FIG. 30 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a ninth example of thepresent invention corresponding to part I of FIG. 19.

FIG. 31 is a view similar to FIG. 22, showing a tenth example of thepresent invention.

FIG. 32 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of an eleventh example ofthe present invention corresponding to part J of FIG. 31.

FIG. 33 is a view similar to FIG. 32, showing a twelfth example of thepresent invention.

FIG. 34 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line K-K of FIG. 33showing just an elastic ring demounted.

FIG. 35 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a thirteenth example ofthe present invention corresponding to part L of FIG. 31.

FIG. 36 is a view similar to FIG. 35, showing a fourteenth example ofthe present invention.

FIG. 37 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line M-M of FIG. 36.

FIG. 38 shows an example of a construction where the electric motor isprovided in the vicinity of the pinion.

FIG. 39 shows an example of a construction where the electric motor isprovided in the vicinity of the sub pinion.

FIG. 40 shows a fifteenth example of the present invention correspondingto cross-section A-A of FIG. 1.

FIG. 41 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a part N of FIG. 40.

FIG. 42 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line O-O of FIG. 41.

FIG. 43 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line P-P of FIG. 43.

FIG. 44 is a perspective view of a condition immediately beforecombining the bearing holder element, the fourth bearing, and theelastic ring.

FIG. 45( a) is a cross-sectional view taken along the line Q-Q of FIG.42, and FIG. 45( b) is a cross-sectional view taken along the line R-Rof FIG. 42.

FIG. 46 is a schematic diagram of an overall construction of an electricpower steering apparatus being an object of the present invention.

FIG. 47( a) is a schematic cross-sectional view, and (b) is across-sectional view taken along the line S-S of (a), for explaining thedirection of a reaction force applied from a worm wheel to a worm shaftat the time of rotating drive of an electric motor in a predetermineddirection.

FIG. 48( a) is a schematic cross-sectional view, and (b) is across-sectional view taken along the line T-T of (a), for explaining thedirection of a reaction force applied from the worm wheel to the wormshaft at the time of rotating drive of the electric motor in theopposite direction to the predetermined direction.

FIG. 49 is a view similar to FIG. 47( b), showing reaction forces in twodirections applied from the worm wheel to the worm shaft at the time ofrotating drive of the electric motor in the both directions.

FIG. 50 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of a conventionalconstruction of a worm reduction gear.

FIG. 51 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line U-U of FIG. 50.

FIG. 52 is a schematic perspective view showing components of a forceapplied to the worm shaft and the worm wheel when transmitting a driveforce therebetween.

FIG. 53 is a schematic cross-sectional view for explaining the directionof a reaction force applied from the worm wheel to the worm shaft at thetime of rotating drive of the electric motor in a predetermineddirection.

FIG. 54 is a schematic cross-sectional view for explaining the directionof a reaction force applied from the worm wheel to the worm shaft at thetime of rotating drive of the electric motor in the opposite directionto the predetermined direction.

FIG. 55 is a cross-sectional view showing another example of aconventional construction of a worm reduction gear.

FIG. 56 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line V-V of FIG. 55.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

A worm reduction gear of the present invention comprises: a worm wheel,a worm shaft, and an elastic body. The elastic body applies an elasticforce to the worm shaft in a direction towards the worm wheel.

When implementing the worm reduction gear of the present invention,preferably the elastic body applies an elastic force to the worm shaftin a direction towards the worm wheel via a pre-load pad. The worm wheelis freely fixed to an assist shaft. Moreover, opposite ends of the wormshaft are supported on the inside of a gear housing by a pair ofbearings, and a worm provided in an intermediate portion meshes with theworm wheel. Displacement of a pre-load pad with respect to apredetermined direction, is regulated by a guide face provided on thegear housing or on a member fixed to this gear housing, and a clearancebetween the pre-load pad and the guide face is either eliminated orreduced by elastic deformation of the pre-load pad itself based on anelastic force of the elastic body.

Moreover, when implementing the worm reduction gear of the presentinvention, preferably the elastic body applies an elastic force to theworm shaft in the direction towards the worm wheel via the pre-load pad.The worm wheel is freely fixed to an assist worm shaft. Moreover, thepre-load pad comprises a pair of elements, and its displacement withrespect to a predetermined direction, is restricted by a guide faceprovided on the gear housing or on a member fixed to this gear housing,and a clearance between the pre-load pad and the guide face is eithereliminated or reduced by movement of the pair of elements in a directionto separate from each other, based on an elastic force of the elasticbody.

This configuration suppresses the generation of a grating abnormal noise(collision noise) due to collision of the pre-load pad with the guideface due to the reaction force applied from the worm wheel to the wormshaft when driven by the electric motor, without loss of theaforementioned teeth hitting noise suppression effect.

That is to say, the object of the configuration is the solution of thefollowing problems.

Firstly, as conventional technology, Patent Document 1 discloses a wormreduction gear in which consideration is given to reduction of backlashat the meshing parts of the worm wheel and the worm shaft. This wormreduction gear is assembled in an electric power steering apparatustogether with an electric motor and the like, and rotation of theelectric motor generated in response to a steering torque applied to thesteering shaft, and auxiliary torque obtained due to reduction in theworm reduction gear, are applied to the steering shaft. Therefore theworm wheel constituting the worm reduction gear is fixed onto part ofthe steering shaft, and the worm of the worm shaft is meshed with theworm wheel. Opposite end portions of the worm shaft are rotatablysupported on the inside of the gear housing by a pair of rollingbearings. Moreover, an electric motor is joined to the gear housing. Ofthe two ends of the worm shaft, the end on the electric motor side isspline-connected to one end of the electric motor rotating shaft.

In part of the gear housing, a threaded hole is provided in a directionperpendicular to the worm shaft in the part on the opposite side to theelectric motor, and a nut member is connected to an outer end portion ofthis threaded hole. Moreover, a spring retainer member is providedinside this threaded hole to allow freedom of displacement in the axialdirection, and one end face of the spring retainer member is abuttedagainst the outer peripheral face of one rolling bearing of the pair ofrolling bearings on the side opposite to the electric motor. An elasticforce is then applied to the other end portion of the worm shaft in thedirection towards the worm wheel, by a coil spring provided between theother end face of the spring retainer member and the nut member, by thespring retainer member and by the one of the pair of rolling bearings.

According to the worm reduction gear disclosed in Patent Document 1,backlash at the meshing parts of the worm reduction gear can be reducedto a certain extent. Therefore generation of the teeth hitting noise inthe worm reduction gear can be suppressed to a certain extent. Inaddition to the structure for suppression of generation of the teethhitting noise in the worm reduction gear part disclosed in PatentDocument 1, the structure disclosed in Patent Document 2 is also known.

In the case of the worm reduction gear disclosed in Patent Document 1,as also described in Patent Document 2, the spring retainer is on theinside of the threaded hole and is freely displaced in the radialdirection of the worm shaft. However, the teeth surfaces of the worm ofthe worm shaft and the worm wheel are each twisted in relation to thedirection of rotation. Therefore, when the drive force of the electricmotor is transmitted from the worm shaft to the worm wheel, a reactionforce is applied from the worm wheel to the worm shaft in the twisteddirection in relation to the radial direction of the worm shaft at themeshing portion between the worm wheel and the worm. Based on thisreaction force, the spring retainer member is displaced in the radialdirection of the threaded hole by the force applied to the springretainer member from the one of a pair of rolling bearings, and there isa possibility of a strong collision with the inner peripheral face ofthe threaded hole. A grating abnormal noise (collision noise) is readilygenerated when the spring retainer member strongly collides with thethreaded hole in this manner.

Furthermore, this abnormal noise is generated more readily when the wormwheel rotates in a predetermined direction. This reason for this isexplained below. Consider the case as shown in FIG. 47 and FIG. 48,wherein one end portion of the worm shaft 29 (left end portion in FIG.47( a) and FIG. 48( a)) is freely supported by the rolling bearing 85 toallow rotation and some oscillating displacement with respect to a fixedpart (not shown in drawings). Moreover, the worm provided in theintermediate portion of the worm shaft 29 is meshed with the worm wheel28. In this condition, when the drive force is transmitted from the wormshaft 29 to the worm wheel 28 by rotating drive of the worm shaft 29, areaction force is applied from the worm wheel 28 to the worm shaft 29.This same drive force is applied to the worm shaft 29 in mutuallyopposite directions in the cases shown in FIG. 47 and FIG. 48. The wormwheel 28 therefore rotates in mutually opposite directions in the casesshown in FIG. 47 and FIG. 48. In this condition, an apparent reactionforce each having force components Fx, Fy, and Fz in the threedirections x, y, and z in FIGS. 47 and 48 is applied from the worm wheel28 to the worm shaft 29 at the meshing parts between the worm wheel 28and the worm. Of these force components Fx, Fy, and Fz, Fx and Fz in thedirections perpendicular to the radial direction of the worm wheel 28are in mutually opposite directions as in the case shown in FIG. 47wherein the worm wheel 28 rotates in one direction (the directionindicated by the arrow (a) in FIG. 47( a)), and the case shown in FIG.48 wherein the worm wheel 28 rotates in the other direction (thedirection indicated by the arrow (b) in FIG. 48( a)).

On the other hand, when the distance between the meshing portion and theoscillating center o of the worm shaft 29 in the radial direction of theworm shaft 29 is assumed as d₂₉, a moment M of magnitude d₂₉·Fx actsupon the worm shaft 29. Therefore, when the distance between the meshingportion and the oscillating center o of the worm shaft 29 in the axialdirection of the worm shaft 29 is assumed as L₂₉, a force Fr ofmagnitude M/L₂₉ based on the moment M acts in the radial direction ofthe worm shaft 29. This force Fr is in mutually opposite directions inthe case shown in FIG. 47 and the case shown in FIG. 48. The magnitudeof the actual force F′y in the y direction in consideration of themoment M acting on the worm shaft 29 from the worm wheel 28 at themeshing portion of the worm shaft 29 is therefore reduced (F′y=Fy−Fr)when the worm wheel 28 rotates in one direction as shown in FIG. 47, andincreased (F′y=Fy+Fr) when the worm wheel 28 rotates in the otherdirection as shown in FIG. 48. Consequently, the magnitude of the actualresultant force F′ of the force components in the x and y directionsacting on the meshing portion of the worm shaft 29 is reduced as shownby the arrow (c) in FIG. 49 when the worm wheel 28 rotates in onedirection, and is increased as shown by the arrow (d) in the same figurewhen the worm wheel 28 rotates in the other direction. In this manner,when the worm wheel 28 rotates in the other direction and the force F′acting on the worm shaft 29 from the worm wheel 28 at the meshingportion increases, the force acting on the spring retainer member (notshown in drawings) which applies the elastic force to the other endportion (right end portion in FIG. 47( a) and FIG. 48( a)) of the wormshaft 29 via a rolling bearing (not shown in drawings), is alsoincreased. Moreover, the spring retainer member strongly collides withparts such as the inner peripheral face of the threaded hole (not shownin drawings) and the like which restrict displacement of the springretainer member, and an abnormal noise is readily generated.

Furthermore, in Patent Document 2, a structure is disclosed forsuppressing generation of the abnormal noise, by providing an elasticbody between the outer peripheral face of a pressing body and the innerperipheral face of the housing. However, the structure disclosed inPatent Document 2 is such that resistance in relation to displacement inthe axial direction of the pressing body increases, and there is apossibility that the effect of suppressing the abnormal noise due tobacklash at the meshing portion may be lost.

The worm reduction gear and the electric power steering apparatusincorporating this worm reduction gear of the present invention,according to the aforementioned configuration, addresses this situation,and is a structure which applies an elastic force to the worm shaft withan elastic member via a separate member to suppress the generation ofthe teeth hitting noise in the worm reduction gear, and has beeninvented to suppress the generation of the abnormal noise due tocollision of the separate member with parts which restrict thedisplacement of the separate member.

According to the configuration of the present invention, of the reactionforces applied from the worm wheel to the worm shaft, when the reactionforce is applied in the case where the contact portion of the worm shaftand the pre-load pad is provided in a symmetrical position in relationto the acting direction perpendicular to the central axis of the wormshaft, the pre-load pad can be readily and greatly elastically deformed.Therefore, the collision force applied to the guide face from thepre-load pad can be reduced. Consequently, the abnormal noise generateddue to collision of the pre-load pad with the guide face can be moreeffectively suppressed.

When implementing the worm reduction gear according to theaforementioned configuration of the present invention, preferably thedirection of possible displacement of the pre-load pad along the guideface is inclined with respect to a virtual plane containing the centralaxis of the worm shaft and meshing portion between the worm provided onthe worm shaft and the worm wheel.

According to this more preferred configuration, the angle between thedirection of the reaction force applied from the worm wheel to the wormshaft during electric motor drive, which differs with the direction ofrotation of the worm wheel, and the direction of displacement of thepre-load pad along the guide face, becomes approximately equalirrespective of the directions of the reaction force. Hence thedifference in the amount of elastic deformation of the pre-load padbased on the reaction force due to this difference in direction can bereadily reduced. Therefore, the difference in the collision force whenthe pre-load pad collides with the guide face, due to the difference inthe aforementioned directions, can be readily reduced, and generation ofthe abnormal noise can be more effectively suppressed.

Furthermore, the electric power steering apparatus of the presentinvention comprises: a steering shaft provided at a rear end portionthereof with a steering wheel; a pinion provided at a front end side ofthe steering shaft, a rack meshed with the pinion or with a membersupported on the pinion; a worm reduction gear of any of theaforementioned configurations according to the present invention; anelectric motor for rotatably driving the worm shaft; a torque sensor fordetecting the direction and magnitude of a torque applied to thesteering shaft or pinion; and a controller for controlling a drivestatus of the electric motor based on a signal input from the torquesensor. Moreover, the assist shaft is a member being the steering shaft,the pinion, or a sub-pinion meshing with the rack at a positionseparated from the pinion.

Furthermore, when implementing the worm reduction gear of the presentinvention, preferably the elastic body is an elestic force applyingdevice, the worm shaft is supported such as to permit rotation andoscillating displacement with respect to a gear housing, and a wormprovided at an intermediate portion is meshed with the worm wheel, and aoscillating central axis of the worm shaft is provided parallel to thecentral axis of the worm wheel at a position displaced towards the wormwheel side from the central axis of the worm shaft.

According to this preferred configuration, the difference in powernecessary to rotate the steering wheel with the electric power steeringapparatus incorporated in the worm reduction gear, and the difference insteering wheel return performance, between the two directions ofrotation, can be suppressed.

That is to say, in the case of the aforementioned configuration, theobject is the solution of the following problems.

Firstly, as conventional technology, Patent Document 3 discloses a wormreduction gear in which consideration is given to reduction of backlashat the meshing portion of the worm wheel and the worm shaft. As shown inFIGS. 50 and 51, this worm reduction gear is assembled in a powersteering apparatus together with an electric motor 114, and rotation ofthe electric motor 114 generated in response to steering torque appliedto the steering shaft 113, and auxiliary torque obtained due toreduction in the worm reduction gear 115 are applied to the steeringshaft 113. Therefore, the worm wheel 116 constituting the worm reductiongear 115 is fixed onto part of the steering shaft 113, and a worm 118 ona worm shaft 117 is meshed with the worm wheel 116. Both end portions ofthe worm shaft 117 are rotatably supported on the inside of the gearhousing 119 by a pair of rolling bearings 120 a and 120 b. Moreover, thebase end portion of the worm shaft 117 (left end portion in FIG. 50) isconnected to one end of the rotating shaft 121 of the electric motor 114(the right end portion in FIG. 51).

Furthermore, the rolling bearing 120 b of the pair of rolling bearings120 a and 120 b and an elestic force applying device 123 are providedbetween the outer peripheral face of the tip end portion of the wormshaft 117 (right end portion in FIG. 50) and the inner peripheral faceof a recessed hole 122 provided in the gear housing 119. The elesticforce applying device 123 comprises an inner cylinder portion 124 and anouter cylinder portion 125 each being made of metal, and a rubber orsynthetic resin circular ring portion 126 connecting these cylinderportions 124 and 125. Moreover, the inner cylinder portion 124 is madeeccentric with respect to the outer cylinder portion 125 on the wormwheel 116 side. The outer cylinder portion 125 of the elestic forceapplying device 123 is fixed into the recessed hole 122, and the tip endportion of the worm shaft 117 is fixed into the inner ring 127 of therolling bearing 120 b fixed inside the inner cylinder portion 124. Anelastic force is applied towards the worm wheel 116 (upwards in FIG. 50and FIG. 51) at the tip end portion of the worm shaft 117 by thisconfiguration, and the worm shaft 117 is oscillating-displaced towardsthe worm wheel 116 side. A face of the other rolling bearing 120 a (leftend face in FIG. 50) of the pair of rolling bearings 120 a and 120 bwhich supports the base end portion of the worm shaft 117 is pressed bythe tip end face of a threaded ring 129 which is mounted in a threadedhole 128 of the gear housing 119. This configuration reduces theinternal clearance in the axial direction of the pair of rollingbearings 120 a and 120 b, and suppresses rattling of the rollingbearings 120 a and 120 b.

According to the worm reduction gear disclosed in Patent Document 3,backlash at the meshing portion between the worm 118 of the worm shaft117 and the worm wheel 116 can be reduced to a certain extent.Therefore, generation of the teeth-hitting noise at the meshing portioncan be suppressed to a certain extent.

In the case of the worm reduction gear disclosed in the Patent Document3, the worm shaft 117 is supported such as to permit oscillatingdisplacement with respect to the gear housing 119. However, when thecentral axis of oscillating axis displacement of the worm shaft 117 isprovided at a position passing through a point on the central axis ofthe worm shaft 117 such as the center of the rolling bearing 120 asupporting the base end portion of the worm shaft 117, there is aproblem in that a difference occurs in returning between the twodirections of rotation of the steering wheel (not shown in drawings).Furthermore, there is also a problem in that the difference between theforces in the two directions of rotation required for the driver tooperate the steering wheel increases. This reason is explained below.

Firstly, consider the case of rotary drive of the worm shaft 117 by theelectric motor 114, and transmission of the drive force from the wormshaft 117 to the worm wheel 116 as shown in the schematic drawing inFIG. 52( a) and (b). In FIG. 52( a) and (b), the electric motor 114rotates in opposite directions with the same magnitude of rotation.Moreover, in FIG. 52( a) and (b), the axial angle of the worm shaft 117and the worm wheel 116 is assumed to be 90°. In this condition, theteeth faces of the worm on the worm shaft 117 and the worm wheel 116 aretwisted with respect to the central axis of the worm shaft 117 and wormwheel 116, and a pressure angle exists on these teeth faces. Therefore,a reactive force comprising components of force Fa₁, Fr₁, and Fu₁ inthree directions, namely the axial and radial directions of the wormshaft 117 and the tangential direction on the pitch circle of the worm,is applied from the worm wheel 116 to the worm shaft 117.

Furthermore, of these components Fa₁, Fr₁, and Fu₁, the component Fa₁ inthe axial direction of the worm shaft 117 becomes the same magnitude inthe opposite direction as the component Fu₂ applied in the tangentialdirection on the pitch circle of the worm wheel 116 from the worm shaft117 to the worm wheel 116. Moreover, the component Fr₁ in the radialdirection of the worm shaft 117 becomes the same magnitude in theopposite direction as the component Fr₂ applied in the radial directionof the worm wheel 116 from the worm shaft 117 to the worm wheel 116.Furthermore, the component Fu₁ in the tangential direction of the wormbecomes the same magnitude in the opposite direction as the componentFa₂ applied in the axial direction of the worm wheel 116 from the wormshaft 117 to the worm wheel 116. Therefore, in the case of the structureshown in FIG. 50 and FIG. 51, even when the component Fr₁ in the radialdirection is applied to the worm shaft 117, an elastic force ofappropriate magnitude is applied to the worm shaft 117 towards the wormwheel 116 by the elestic force applying device 123 (FIG. 50, FIG. 51),such that the teeth faces of the worm of the worm shaft 117 and of theworm wheel 116 are not separated.

Moreover, the reaction force applied from the worm wheel 116 to the wormshaft 117 acts on the meshing portion between the worm of the worm shaft117 and the worm wheel 116 which is displaced from the central axis ofthe worm shaft 117 towards the worm wheel 116. Therefore, if theoscillating center of the worm shaft 117 is provided at a positionpassing through the central axis of the worm shaft 117, a moment acts onthe worm shaft 117 with the oscillating center as the center due to theforce component Fa₁ in the axial direction. Furthermore, the directionof this moment reverses by the relation direction of the worm shaft 117.This is explained in more detail using FIG. 53 and FIG. 54.

In FIG. 53 and FIG. 54, the base end portion of the worm shaft 117 (leftend portion in FIG. 53 and FIG. 54) is supported by the rolling bearing120 a to permit rotation and some oscillating displacement with thecenter o of the rolling bearing 120 a as the center in a fixed part (notshown in drawings). Moreover, in the case shown in FIG. 53 and the caseshown in FIG. 54, the worm shaft 117 is rotated to the same magnitude inmutually opposite directions. Under these conditions, the reaction forceFa₁ in the axial direction of the worm shaft 117 is applied in oppositedirections in the case shown in FIG. 53 and the case shown in FIG. 54,from the worm wheel 116 to the worm shaft 117 at the meshing portionbetween the worm of the worm shaft 117 and the worm wheel 116.Furthermore, if the distance between the meshing portion and theoscillating center o of the worm shaft 117 in the radial direction ofthe worm shaft 117 is assumed as d₁₁₇, a moment M of magnitude d₁₁₇·Fa₁acts upon the worm shaft 117. The direction of this moment M is oppositein the case shown in FIG. 53 and the case shown in FIG. 54. If thedistance between the meshing portion and the worm shaft 117 oscillatingcenter o in the axial direction of the worm shaft 117 is assumed asL₁₁₇, a force Fm of magnitude M/L₁₁₇ acts on the meshing portion in theradial direction of the worm shaft 117. Moreover, this force Fm acts inmutually opposite directions in the case shown in FIG. 53 and the caseshown in FIG. 54. Therefore the magnitude of the axial force Fr₁′considering the moment M, acting in the radial direction on the wormshaft 117 from the worm wheel 116 at the meshing portion is reduced(Fr₁′=Fr₁−Fm) when the worm wheel 116 rotates in one direction as shownin FIG. 53, and increased (Fr₁′=Fr₁+Fm) when the worm wheel 116 rotatesin the other direction as shown in FIG. 54.

In this manner, when the worm wheel 116 rotates in the other direction(the case shown in FIG. 54), where the magnitude of the axial force Fr₁′acting in the radial direction on the worm shaft 117 at the meshingportion increases, the teeth faces of the worm of the worm shaft 117 arereadily separated from the teeth faces of the worm wheel 116. On theother hand, when the force pressing the teeth faces together isincreased, the rotational torque of the worm wheel 116 and the wormshaft 117 increases. For this reason, when the worm wheel 116 rotates inthe other direction, it is necessary to set an appropriate predeterminedvalue for the elastic force provided by the elestic force applyingdevice to the worm shaft 117, in consideration of the need toaccommodate both the need to prevent separation of the teeth faces, andto prevent excessive force pressing teeth faces together. However, evenwhen the elastic force is set in this manner, when the worm wheel 116rotates in one direction, an excessive increase in the force with whichthe teeth faces are pressed into mutual contact is unavoidable.Therefore, a problem arises in that when a motor vehicle returns fromtravelling in a turn to travelling directly ahead, the steering wheelreturns to the neutral condition, but return performance deteriorates inone direction and the force required by the driver to turn the steeringwheel becomes excessive in one direction, so that the difference inreturn performance and force, in turning the steering wheel in the twodirections increases.

The worm reduction gear and the electric power steering apparatusincorporating this worm reduction gear of the present invention,according to the aforementioned configuration, address this situation,and is a structure which applies an elastic force to the worm shaft in adirection towards the worm wheel to suppress the generation of the teethhitting noise at the meshing portion between the worm of the worm shaftand the worm wheel, and has been invented to suppress the force requiredto rotate the member fixed with the worm wheel, and to reduce thedifference in the return performance of rotating this member to theneutral condition between the two directions of rotation.

In the case of the worm reduction gear of the aforementionedconfiguration, the oscillating central axis of the worm shaft isprovided parallel to the central axis of the worm wheel at a positiondisplaced towards the worm wheel from the central axis of the wormshaft. Therefore, when the drive force is transmitted from the wormshaft to the worm wheel, irrespective of the reaction force applied inthe axial direction of the worm shaft from the worm wheel to the wormshaft, the moment generated in the worm shaft based on the reactionforce in the axial direction can be reduced or made zero. Consequently,variations in the reaction force applied in the radial direction to theworm shaft from the worm wheel due to the effect of this moment can besuppressed. Moreover, by means of this the force required to rotate themember fixed with the worm wheel, and the difference in the returnperformance of rotating this member to the neutral condition between thetwo directions of rotation can be suppressed. As a result, in the caseof the electric power steering apparatus incorporating the wormreduction gear of the present invention, the force required to rotatethe steering wheel, and the difference in the return performance of thesteering wheel between the two directions of rotation, can besuppressed.

Furthermore, when implementing the worm reduction gear according to theaforementioned configuration, more preferably an axis parallel with thecentral axis of the worm wheel and passing through one point on astraight line which is parallel with the central axis of the worm shaftand includes an intersection point of pitch circles of the worm of theworm shaft and the worm wheel, is made the oscillating central axis ofthe worm shaft.

According to this more preferable configuration, when the drive force istransmitted from the worm shaft to the worm wheel, irrespective ofapplication of the reaction force in the axial direction of the wormshaft from the worm wheel to the worm shaft, generation of a moment onthe worm shaft based on the reaction force in the axial direction can beeliminated (made zero). Therefore, the force required to rotate themember fixed with the worm wheel, and the difference in the returnperformance of rotating the member to the neutral condition between thetwo directions of rotation can be eliminated.

More preferably a bearing holder for supporting at least one of the pairof bearings which rotatably support opposite end portions of the wormshaft, is supported such as to permit oscillating displacement withrespect to the gear housing.

According to this more preferable configuration, a conventional bearingin general use can be used as one of the bearings, and this bearing canbe supported such as to permit oscillating displacement with respect tothe gear housing, and cost increases can be suppressed.

More preferably an oscillating central axis of the worm shaft isprovided in relation to the axial direction of the worm shaft, between abearing on an electric motor side of the pair of bearings rotatablysupporting opposite end portions of the worm shaft and the meshingportion of a worm of the worm shaft and the worm wheel.

According to this more preferred configuration, a large pre-load can beapplied to the meshing portion of the worm of the worm shaft and theworm wheel while keeping the oscillating displacement amount of the endportion on the electric motor side of the worm shaft small, to moreeffectively suppress the generation of a grating teeth hitting noise atthe meshing portion.

More preferably, in any of the worm reduction gears in theaforementioned configurations, there is provided an elestic forceapplying device for applying an elastic force to the worm shaft in adirection towards the worm wheel, on an opposite side to the oscillatingcentral axis of the worm shaft in relation to the meshing portion of theworm of the worm shaft and the worm wheel.

According to this more preferred configuration, the elastic deformationamount of the elastic body constituting the elestic force applyingdevice can be increased, and the magnitude of the elastic force appliedto the worm shaft can be readily regulated.

More preferably, in any of the worm reduction gears in theaforementioned configurations, a bearing holder for supporting a bearingfor rotatably supporting one end portion of the worm shaft is supportedin the gear housing such as to permit oscillating displacement by anoscillating axis, and an elastic member is provided between the gearhousing and the oscillating axis, or between the bearing holder and theoscillating axis.

According to this more preferred configuration, generation of the teethhitting noise at the meshing portion can be suppressed withoutneedlessly increasing the rotational torque of the worm shaft. That isto say, when the worm shaft is supported such that axial displacementwith respect to the gear housing is impossible, the worm shaft isreadily able to rotate when a rotational vibration is input to the wormwheel. Furthermore, since a large inertial moment electric motorrotating shaft is connected to this worm shaft, the force transmittedbetween the teeth faces of the worm of the worm shaft and the worm wheelincreases, based on this rotational vibration of the worm wheel.Consequently it is necessary to increase the elastic force applied bythe elestic force applying device so that even when this force isapplied, the both teeth faces do not separate. However if this elasticforce becomes excessive, the rotational torque of the worm shaft becomesneedlessly large. On the other hand, according to the worm reductiongear of the aforementioned configuration of the present invention, whena rotational vibration is input to the worm wheel, the worm shaft isreadily displaced in the axial direction, and rotation of the worm shaftbecomes difficult. Therefore, the force transmitted between the bothteeth faces can be made small. As a result, separation of the teethfaces can be prevented without needlessly increasing the rotationaltorque of the worm shaft, and generation of the teeth hitting noise canbe suppressed. Moreover, transmission of vibration based on collision ofthe teeth faces, to the gear housing can be made more difficult, andgeneration of an abnormal noise based on this vibration can besuppressed.

Furthermore, when implementing the worm reduction gear according to theaforementioned configuration of the present invention, preferably abearing holder for supporting a bearing for rotatably supporting one endportion of the worm shaft, is supported in the gear housing such as topermit oscillating displacement by the oscillating axis, and an elasticring with at least one part being of an elastic member is providedbetween the gear housing and the oscillating axis, or between thebearing holder and the oscillating axis, and the rigidity of the elasticring with respect to the radial direction of the oscillating axis of theworm shaft is made different in the circumferential direction.

According to this preferred configuration, by reducing the rigidity ofthe elastic ring with respect to the axial direction of the worm shaft,the worm shaft can be readily displaced in the axial direction withrespect to the gear housing while maintaining the rigidity required ofthe entire elastic ring. Therefore the increase in rotational torque ofthe worm shaft can be more effectively suppressed.

Moreover, when implementing any of the worm reduction gears according tothe configurations of the present invention, preferably an elestic forceapplying device for applying an elastic force in a direction towards theworm wheel to the worm shaft, is provided between the worm shaft and anelectric motor rotating shaft.

According to this preferred configuration, while suppressing theabnormal noise, a deep groove ball bearing having a comparatively largeinternal clearance in the axial direction can be used as one of thebearings for supporting the end portion of the worm shaft on theelectric motor side, and hence costs can be reduced.

Furthermore, when implementing any of the worm reduction gears accordingto the configurations of the present invention, preferably an elesticforce applying device for applying an elastic force in a directiontowards the worm wheel to the worm shaft, is provided between a bearingholder for supporting at least one of the pair of bearings rotatablysupporting the opposite end portions of the worm shaft, and the gearhousing.

According to this preferred configuration, a pre-load can be applied tothe meshing portion of the worm of the worm shaft and the worm wheelwithout increasing the total length of the part formed by connecting theworm shaft and the electric motor rotating shaft.

Moreover, when implementing any of the worm reduction gears according tothe configurations of the present invention, preferably an elasticmember is provided between one of the pair of bearings supporting theopposite end portions of the worm shaft, and which is separated from theoscillating central axis, and the gear housing, to thereby enableoscillating displacement of the worm shaft with respect to the gearhousing.

According to this preferred configuration, generation of an abnormalnoise due to collision between the end portion of the worm shaft on theopposite side to the electric motor, and the one bearing supporting thisend portion can be prevented, without losing the effect of suppressingthe generation of the teeth hitting noise at the meshing portion of theworm of the worm shaft and the worm wheel.

Furthermore, when implementing any of the worm reduction gears accordingto the configurations of the present invention, preferably a secondelastic ring with at least one part being of an elastic member isprovided between one of the pair of bearings supporting the opposite endportions of the worm shaft, and which is separated from the worm shaftoscillating central axis, and the gear housing, to thereby enableoscillating displacement of the worm shaft with respect to the gearhousing, and the rigidity of the second elastic ring in relation to thedirection of oscillating displacement of the worm shaft is madedifferent to that in another direction.

According to this preferred configuration, displacement of the wormshaft towards the worm wheel side can be more readily performed whilepreventing displacement of the worm shaft in an unintended direction,and generation of the teeth hitting noise at the meshing portion of theworm of the worm shaft and the worm wheel can be more effectivelysuppressed.

Moreover, when implementing the worm reduction gear of theaforementioned configuration, preferably a stopper portion forrestricting oscillating displacement of the worm shaft, is provided inthe elastic member or the second elastic ring provided between the onebearing and the gear housing. According to this desirable configuration,excessive oscillating displacement of the worm shaft can be prevented.

Furthermore, when implementing any of the worm reduction gears accordingto the configurations of the present invention, preferably the rotatingshaft of the electric motor and the worm shaft are connected via anelastic member. According to this preferred configuration, transmissionof rotational vibration between the rotating shaft of the electric motorand the worm shaft can be inhibited.

Moreover, when implementing any of the worm reduction gears according tothe configurations of the present invention, preferably grease is filledbetween the gear housing and a bearing holder for supporting at leastone bearing of the pair of bearings which rotatably support the oppositeend portions of the worm shaft.

According to this preferred configuration, when transmitting the driveforce between the worm shaft and the worm wheel, if a tendency occursfor separation of the worm shaft from the worm wheel based on thereaction force applied from the worm wheel to the worm shaft,oscillating displacement of the bearing holder can be inhibited. Whenthe drive force increases, the reaction force increases, and a tendencyoccurs for the speed of separation of the worm shaft from the worm wheelto increase. In this case, since the viscous resistance of the greasealso increases, oscillating displacement of the bearing holder can besuppressed. Separation of the teeth faces of the worm of the worm shaftand the worm wheel can therefore be readily prevented.

Furthermore, when implementing any of the worm reduction gears accordingto the configurations of the present invention, preferably a bearingholder for supporting at least one bearing of the pair of bearings whichrotatably support the opposite end portions of the worm shaft is made ofmagnesium alloy.

According to this preferred configuration, vibration generated in theworm shaft due to collision of the teeth faces of the worm of the wormshaft and the worm wheel can be readily absorbed by the bearing holder.Therefore transmission of this vibration to the gear housing can beinhibited.

Moreover, the electric power steering apparatus of the present inventioncomprises: a steering shaft provided at a rear end thereof with asteering wheel; a pinion provided at a front end of the steering shaft,a rack meshed with the pinion or with a member supported on the pinion;any of the worm reduction gears according to the aforementionedconfiguration of the present invention; an electric motor for rotatablydriving the worm shaft; a torque sensor for detecting the direction andmagnitude of a torque applied to the steering shaft or pinion; and acontroller for controlling a drive status of the electric motor based ona signal input from the torque sensor. Furthermore, the worm wheel isfixed to a member being the steering shaft, the pinion, or a sub-pinionmeshing with the rack at a position separated from this pinion.

Moreover, when implementing the worm reduction gear of the presentinvention, preferably the elastic body applies an elastic force to theworm shaft in a direction towards the worm wheel via a pre-load pad.Furthermore, the worm wheel is freely fixed to an assist shaft.Moreover, one end portion of the worm shaft is supported by a firstbearing, and the other end portion is supported by a second bearing,inside a gear housing, and a worm provided in an intermediate portionmeshes with the worm wheel, and is able to oscillate around the firstbearing. Furthermore, an outer peripheral face and at least part of bothaxial side faces of the second bearing are covered by a synthetic resinshock-absorbing member fixed to the gear housing, and axial displacementof the second bearing with respect to the shock-absorbing member isrestricted. Moreover, axial displacement of the worm shaft with respectto the pre-load pad and the second bearing is permitted.

According to this preferred configuration, irrespective of the forceapplied from the worm wheel to the worm shaft in the axial direction,the pre-load applied to the meshing portion of the worm of the wormshaft and the worm wheel can be readily maintained within a limitednarrow range. Therefore generation of the teeth hitting noise at themeshing portion can be effectively suppressed.

That is to say, in the case of the aforementioned configuration, it isalso an object to solve the following problems.

Firstly, as conventional technology, Patent Document 4 discloses a wormreduction gear in which consideration is given to reduction of backlashat the meshing portion of the worm wheel and the worm of the worm shaft.As shown in FIGS. 55 and 56, opposite end portions of the worm shaft 117of this worm reduction gear, are rotatably supported with respect to agear housing 119 by a pair of rolling bearings 120 a and 120 b. Apushing body 131 is pressed elastically against the peripheral face ofan outer ring 130 of the rolling bearing 120 b (right in FIG. 55) beingone of the pair of rolling bearings 120 a and 120 b, by a spring 132supported in the gear housing 119. This configuration applies an elasticforce in the direction towards the worm wheel 116, to the tip endportion of the worm shaft 117. Furthermore, a cylindrical guide member134 provided with a pair of side wall faces 133 with mutually parallelinner faces is provided surrounding the one rolling bearing 120 b, torestrict displacement of the one rolling bearing 120 b in the radialdirection and axial direction. Moreover, by pressing the tip end portionof a threaded ring 129 which is engaged in a threaded hole formed in thegear housing 119, against one face of the other rolling bearing 120 a(left in FIG. 55) of the pair of rolling bearings 120 a and 120 b, theinternal clearance of the other rolling bearing 120 a is reduced, theworm shaft 117 is pressed against the one rolling bearing 120 b, and theinternal clearance of this one rolling bearing 120 b is reduced. Thisconfiguration suppresses play in the one rolling bearing 120 b and theother rolling bearing 120 a. Other configurations are similar to thestructure disclosed in Patent Document 3 shown in FIG. 48 through FIG.49.

According to the worm reduction gear disclosed in Patent Document 4, aswith the structure disclosed in Patent Document 3, pre-load can beapplied to the meshing portion of the worm 118 of the worm shaft 117 andthe worm wheel 116, and backlash at the meshing portion can be reducedto a certain extent. Therefore generation of the teeth hitting noise atthe meshing portion can be suppressed to a certain extent.

In the case of the structure disclosed in Patent Document 4, play in therolling bearings 120 a and 120 b can be suppressed by tightening thethreaded ring 129. However, as the threaded ring 129 is increasinglytightened, the end face of the outer ring 130 constituting the onerolling bearing 120 b for supporting the tip end portion of the wormshaft 117 is pressed strongly against the bottom face of the guidemember 134. As a result, a large frictional force is generated betweenthe end face of the outer ring 130 and the bottom face of the guidemember 134. This increase in the frictional force becomes a cause of areduction in the pre-load applied to the meshing portion by the spring132 pressing against the outer peripheral face of the outer ring 130.Furthermore, a reduction in this pre-load becomes a cause of the teethhitting noise being readily generated at the meshing portion.

To address this situation, it is considered to increase the elasticforce applied to the outer ring 130 by the spring 132, so that even whenthe frictional force acting between the end face of the outer ring 130and the end face of the guide member 134 increases, the pre-load appliedto the meshing portion is maintained equal to or greater than apredetermined value. However, if this pre-load is excessively large, thereturn performance of the steering wheel deteriorates. That is to say,the pre-load is applied to suppress generation of the teeth hittingnoise at the meshing portion, however, if this pre-load becomes equal toor greater than a predetermined value, when a motor vehicle returns fromtravelling in a turn to travelling directly ahead, the steering wheelreturn performance to restore the steering wheel to the neutralcondition deteriorates. Therefore the pre-load must be set within anarrow range. Consequently, the frictional force acting between the endface of the outer ring 130 and the end face of the guide member 134which significantly affects this pre-load, must be sufficientlysuppressed. However, the operation in finely adjusting the tightness ofthe threaded ring 129 in order to sufficiently reduce this frictionalforce is difficult.

Moreover, when the electric motor 114 is rotated in association with thedriver steering the steering wheel, a large reaction force is applied inthe axial direction of the worm shaft 117 from the worm wheel 116 to theworm shaft 117. When the worm shaft 117 is displaced to the guide member134 side in relation to the axial direction by this reaction force, theouter ring 130 of the one rolling bearing 120 b for supporting the tipend portion of the worm shaft 117 is pressed strongly against the bottomface of the guide member 134, so that there is a possibility that thefrictional force generated between the outer ring 130 and the bottomface of the guide member 134 will increase. That is to say, it isdifficult to maintain this frictional force at a constant value over along period of time, and when this frictional force increases, the teethhitting noise is readily generated at the meshing portion. On the otherhand, if this frictional force is reduced, the return performance of thesteering wheel readily deteriorates.

The worm reduction gear and the electric power steering apparatusincorporating this worm reduction gear address this situation, and havebeen invented to effectively suppress the generation of the teethhitting noise at the meshing portion by ensuring that the pre-loadapplied to the meshing portion is readily and stably maintained within alimited narrow range, irrespective of the force applied from the wormwheel to the worm shaft in the axial direction.

In the case of the aforementioned configuration, axial displacement ofthe worm shaft with respect to the pre-load pad for applying an elasticforce to the worm shaft, and the second bearing for supporting the tipend portion of the worm shaft is permitted. Therefore, even when a largereaction force is applied from the worm wheel to the worm shaft in theaxial direction, the pre-load pad and the second bearing are not pressedstrongly against other members in the axial direction of the worm shaftby the reaction force. Consequently, by applying an elastic force to theworm shaft with the elastic body via the pre-load pad, the pre-loadapplied to the meshing portion of the worm wheel and the worm of theworm shaft can be prevented from fluctuating on a grand scale due to theeffect of the reaction force. As a result, the pre-load can be readilyand stably maintained within a limited narrow range for a long period oftime, and generation of the teeth hitting noise at the meshing portioncan be effectively suppressed. Furthermore, since the shock-absorbingmember which restricts displacement of the second bearing is made fromsynthetic resin, the frictional force acting between the second bearingand the shock-absorbing member can be reduced, and the second bearingcan be readily displaced in the radial direction. Therefore, generationof the teeth hitting noise at the meshing portion can be moreeffectively suppressed. Moreover, the outer peripheral face and at leastpart of both axial side faces of the second bearing are covered by theshock-absorbing member, and axial displacement of the second bearingwith respect to the shock-absorbing member is restricted. Therefore,play in the second bearing can be readily suppressed without pressingthe worm shaft against the second bearing in the axial direction.

Furthermore, when implementing the aforementioned worm reduction gear,more preferably the shock-absorbing member is one where notches areprovided along the entire axial length in a part in the circumferentialdirection.

In the case of this more preferable configuration, the diameter of theshock-absorbing member can be elastically widely expanded, so that theoperation of assembling the second bearing into the shock-absorbingmember to restrict axial displacement of the second bearing can bereadily performed. Moreover, dimensional errors and assembly errors inparts provided surrounding the shock-absorbing member can be readilyabsorbed by the shock-absorbing member. Furthermore, even if the ambienttemperature varies, dimensional changes are absorbed by the notched partprovided in the shock-absorbing member, and dimensional changes otherthan at the notch of the shock-absorbing member can be suppressed.

More preferably for the second bearing, axial displacement of the secondbearing with respect to the shock-absorbing member is prevented, andradial displacement of the second bearing with respect to theshock-absorbing member is permitted.

According to this more preferred configuration, in the case where theworm shaft is displaced with oscillating while relatively displacing theworm shaft and the second bearing in the axial direction, slidingfriction between the worm shaft and second bearing can be readilyreduced, and the oscillating displacement can be readily performed in asmooth manner. Therefore, overall frictional losses can be reduced, andan appropriate pre-load can be readily applied to the meshing portion ofthe worm of the worm shaft and the worm wheel.

Furthermore, more preferably an elastic member is provided between theshock-absorbing member and the gear housing, or between theshock-absorbing member and the second bearing.

According to this more preferred configuration, play in theshock-absorbing member with respect to the gear housing, or play in thesecond bearing with respect to the shock-absorbing member, can bereadily suppressed. Therefore dimensional control of each part can bereadily performed, and meshing at the meshing portion of the worm of theworm shaft and the worm wheel can be readily maintained in anappropriate condition. Moreover, when assembling the shock-absorbingmember into the gear housing, and assembling the second bearing into theshock-absorbing member, the elastic member can be compressed betweenthese members. Therefore the operation of assembling the shock-absorbingmember and the second bearing can be performed with respect to the gearhousing and shock-absorbing member while preventing falling out of theshock-absorbing member or the second bearing, and hence the assemblyoperation can be readily performed.

Furthermore, more preferably the shock-absorbing member comprises a pairof elements having a shape obtained by dividing the shock-absorbingmember into two by a virtual plane containing the central axis of theshock-absorbing member. According to this more preferable configuration,the fabrication operation to obtain the shock-absorbing member issimplified, and the operation for assembling the second bearing insidethe shock-absorbing member is more readily performed.

Moreover, when implementing the aforementioned configuration, preferablythe directions of the matching faces of the pair of elements are alignedwith the direction wherein the elastic force is applied by the elasticbody to the worm shaft. According to this preferred configuration,oscillating displacement of the worm shaft can be more readilyperformed.

Furthermore, in this case of the aforementioned electric power steeringapparatus, this comprises: a steering shaft provided at a rear endportion thereof with a steering wheel; a pinion provided at a front endside of the steering shaft; a rack meshed with the pinion or with amember supported on the pinion; any of the worm reduction gearsaccording to the aforementioned configurations of the present invention;an electric motor for rotatably driving the worm shaft; a torque sensorfor detecting the direction and magnitude of a torque applied to thesteering shaft or pinion; and a controller for controlling a drivestatus of the electric motor based on a signal input from the torquesensor, and an assist shaft is a member being the steering shaft, thepinion, or a sub-pinion meshing with the rack at a position separatedfrom the pinion.

EXAMPLE 1

FIGS. 1 to 9 show a first example of the present invention. The electricpower steering apparatus of this example comprises: a steering shaft 2being an assist shaft which is secured at a rear end portion to asteering wheel 1; a steering column 15 through which the steering shaft2 passes freely; a worm reduction gear 16 for applying a supplementarytorque to the steering shaft 2; a pinion 11 (refer to FIG. 46) providedon the front end of the steering shaft 2; a rack 12 (refer to FIG. 46)which is meshed with the pinion 11 or with a member supported on thepinion 11; a torque sensor 3 (refer to FIG. 46); an electric motor 31;and a controller 6 (refer to FIG. 46).

The steering shaft 2 is made by assembling an outer shaft 17 and aninner shaft 18 by a spline engaging section so as to freely transmit arotation force and enable axial movement. Moreover, in the case of thisexample, the front end portion of the outer shaft 17 and the rear endportion of the inner shaft 18 are engaged by a spline, and connected viasynthetic resin. Consequently, for the outer shaft 17 and the innershaft 18, at the time of a collision this synthetic resin is broken sothat the total length can be shortened.

Furthermore, the cylindrical steering column 15 through which thesteering shaft 2 passes, is made by assembling an outer column 19 and aninner column 20 in telescopic form; so that in the case where an axialimpact is applied, the energy due to this impact is absorbed and thetotal length shortened, giving a so called collapsible construction.Moreover, the front end portion of the inner column 20 is securelyconnected to the rear end face of a gear housing 22. The inner shaft 18passes through the inside of this gear housing 22, and the front endportion of the inner shaft 18 protrudes from the front end face of thegear housing 22.

Regarding the steering column 15, the central portion is supported by asupport bracket 24 on one part of a car body 26 such as the lower faceof the dash board. Furthermore, between the support bracket 24 and thecar body 26 there is provided an engaging section (not shown in thefigure) so that in the case where the support bracket 24 is subjected toan impact in the forward direction, the support bracket 24 comes awayfrom the engaging section. The upper end portion of the gear housing 22also is supported on one part of the car body 26. By providing a tiltmechanism and a telescopic mechanism, adjustment of the front and rearposition and the height position of the steering wheel 1 can be freelymade. Such a tilt mechanism and telescopic mechanism is heretoforeknown, and are not a characteristic part of this example, and hencedetailed description is omitted.

At the front end portion of the inner shaft 2, the part which protrudesfrom the front end face of the gear housing 22 is connected to the rearend portion of an intermediate shaft 8 via a universal joint 7.Furthermore, the front end portion of the intermediate shaft 8 isconnected to an input shaft 10 of a steering gear 9 via anotheruniversal joint 7. The pinion 11 is joined to the input shaft 10.Furthermore, the rack 12 is meshed with the pinion 11. In order toprevent vibration applied to the intermediate shaft 8 from the groundvia the wheels, from being transmitted to the steering wheel 1, avibration absorber may be provided in each of the universal joints 7.

The worm reduction gear 16 comprises a worm wheel 28 which can beexternally fixed onto one part of the inner shaft 18, a worm shaft 29, atorsion coil spring 30, and a pre-load pad 70. Moreover, the wormreduction gear 16 comprises first through fourth ball bearings 34through 37, being single row deep groove type.

The torque sensor 3 is provided surrounding the intermediate portion ofthe steering shaft 2, and detects the direction and magnitude of atorque applied to the steering shaft 2 from the steering wheel 1, andsends a signal (detection signal) representing the detection value tothe controller 6. Then the controller 6 sends a drive signal to theelectric motor 31 corresponding to this detection signal, so that anauxiliary torque is produced of a predetermined magnitude in apredetermined direction.

The worm wheel 28 and the worm shaft 29 are provided on the inside ofthe gear housing 22, and the worm wheel 28 and a worm 27 provided on anintermediate portion of the worm shaft 29 are meshed together. Theelectric motor 31 comprises; a case 23 which is securely connected tothe gear housing 22, a stator 39 of a permanent magnet type which isprovided on the inner peripheral face of the case 23, a rotation shaft32 provided on the inside of the case 23, and a rotor 38 provided on theintermediate portion of the rotation shaft 32 in a condition facing thestator 39.

The first ball bearing 34 is provided between the inner peripheral faceof a concavity 41 provided in the central portion of a bottom plate 40constituting the case 23, and the outer peripheral face of the base endportion of the rotation shaft 32, and rotatably supports the base endportion (left end poriton in FIGS. 2 and 3) of the rotation shaft 32with respect to the case 23. The second ball bearing 35 is providedbetween an inner peripheral edge of a partition 42 provided on the innerperipheral face of an intermediate portion of the case 23, and the outerperipheral face of an intermediate portion of the rotation shaft 32, androtatably supports the intermediate portion of the rotation shaft 32with respect to the partition 42. The rotor 38 is formed by winding acoil 45 in slots 44 provided at a plurality of locations around thecircumferential direction of the outer peripheral face of a laminatedsteel plate type core 43 which is provided on the intermediate portionof the rotation shaft 32. Moreover, at the tip end portion of therotation shaft 32 (the right end portion in FIGS. 2 and 3), on a portionbetween the rotor 38 and the partition 42, there is provided acommutator 46 for energizing the coil 45.

On the other hand, at the inner peripheral face of the case 23, a brushholder 47 is secured to a portion facing the commutator 46. Furthermore,a brush 48 is accommodated inside the brush holder 47 so as to be freelydisplaced in the radial direction of the case 23. The brush 48 iselectrically connected to a terminal of a coupler (not shown in thefigure) provided on the outer peripheral face of the case 23. An elasticforce directed radially inwards of the case 23 is applied to the brush48 by means of a spring 49 supported inside of the brush holder 47.Consequently, the inner end face of the brush 48 is elastically andslidingly contacted against the outer peripheral face of the commutator46. The commutator 46 and the brush 48 constitute a rotor phase detectorfor switching the direction of the exciting current to the coil 45.

Furthermore, by means of a spline engaging section 33 which is made upby spline engagement of a female spline 50 provided in the innerperipheral face of the base end portion (left end portion in FIGS. 2 and4) of the worm shaft 29, and a male spline 51 provided on the tip endportion of the rotation shaft 32, the end portion pairs of the twoshafts 29 and 32 are connected. Due to this construction, the worm shaft29 rotates together with the rotation shaft 32.

The third ball bearing 36 rotatably supports the base end portion of theworm shaft 29 on the inside of the gear housing 22. Therefore an outerring 57 constituting the third ball bearing 36 is internally fixed intothe inner peripheral face of a support bore 59 provided on one part ofthe gear housing 22. Furthermore, one axial end face (the right end facein FIGS. 2 and 4) of the outer ring 57 is abutted against a step portion58 provided on the inner peripheral face of the support bore 59, and theother axial end face (the left end face in FIGS. 2 and 4) of the outerring 57 is held by a lock ring 88 which is locked in an inner peripheralface of the support bore 59. Moreover, an inner ring 52 constituting thethird ball bearing 36 is externally fitted on the outer peripheral faceof the base end portion of the worm shaft 29, to a portion axiallycorresponding to the spline engaging section 33. Furthermore, the axialcentral position of the spline engaging section 33, and the axialcentral position of the third ball bearing 36 are made to approximatelycoincide. A small gap is provided between the inner peripheral face ofthe inner ring 52 and the outer peripheral face of the worm shaft 29, sothat it is possible to incline the worm shaft 29 with respect to thethird ball bearing 36 within a predetermined range. Moreover, betweenthe axial opposite end faces of the inner ring 52 and the inner end faceof a nut 55 which is threadedly secured to a male thread portion 54provided on the base end portion of the worm shaft 29, and the side faceof a flange 53 provided on the outer peripheral face of the base endside portion of the worm shaft 29, there is respectively provided aplurality of disc springs 56. Between the side face of the flange 53 andthe inner end face (the left end face in FIGS. 2 and 4) of the nut 55,the inner ring 52 is elastically sandwiched. By means of thisconstruction, the worm shaft 29 can be elastically displaced withrespect to the third ball bearing 36, within a predetermined range inthe axial direction. Preferably, a ball bearing of a four point contacttype is used for the third ball bearing 36.

On the other hand, the fourth ball bearing 37 rotatably supports the tipend portion (the right end portion in FIGS. 2, 4 and 5) of the wormshaft 29 on the inside of the gear housing 22. Therefore an outer ring60 constituting the fourth ball bearing 37 is fixed into a holder 61which is secured inside the gear housing 22. The holder 61 is an overallannular shape of L-shape in cross-section, and the outer ring 60 isinternally fixed into a large diameter portion 62 provided on an innerperipheral face of one half portion (the left half portion in FIGS. 2, 4and 5) of the holder 61. Furthermore, on the outer peripheral face ofthe tip end side portion of the worm shaft 29, a bush 64 made of anelastic material is externally fitted onto the large diameter portion 63provided on the portion away from the worm 27. The bush 64 is formed inan overall annular shape of L-shape in cross-section. Moreover, thelarge diameter portion 63 of the worm shaft 29 is loosely inserted onthe inside of the bush 64, and the tip end portion of the worm shaft 29protrudes from the axial end face (the right end face in FIGS. 2, 4 and5) of the bush 64. On the axial intermediate portion of the bush 64, aninner ring 65 constituting the fourth ball bearing 37 is externallysecured. Furthermore, one axial end face (the left end face in FIGS. 2,4 and 5) of the inner ring 65 abuts against the inside face of anoutwardly directed flange 67 provided on the other axial end portion(the left end portion in FIGS. 2, 4 and 5) of the bush 64, to therebyprovide axial positioning of the inner ring 65. A small gap is providedbetween the inner peripheral face of the bush 64 and the outerperipheral face of the large diameter portion 63, so that it is possibleto incline (radially displace) the worm shaft 29 with respect to thebush 64 within a predetermined range.

A taper face 89 is provided between the large diameter portion 63provided on the worm shaft 29 and a small diameter portion 68 providedon a portion further to the tip end side from the large diameter portion63. Moreover, on a continuous portion between the small diameter portion68 and the tip end face of the worm shaft 29 there is provided a taperface 109. Furthermore, the small diameter portion 68 is inserted withoutplay in one part of a pre-load pad 70 which is positioned between theother end face (the right end face in FIGS. 2, 4 and 5) of the holder 61secured to the gear housing 22, and the bottom face of a concavity 72provided in the gear housing 22. The pre-load pad 70, as shown in detailin FIGS. 7 through 9 is made by injection molding a synthetic resinwhich is mixed with a solid lubricant, and forming into a notchedcylindrical shape with one side part removed at each of two locations ondiametrically opposite sides situated nearer the outer periphery.Furthermore, of planar portions 91 provided on the diametricallyopposite sides in the radial direction of the outer peripheral face ofthe pre-load pad 70, arm portions 92 are provided on the portion to oneside (the portion towards the back side in FIGS. 7 to 9) on one endportion in the lengthwise direction (the bottom end portion in FIGS. 7to 9). The worm shaft 29 is freely inserted without play on the insideof a through hole 71 which is provided in a condition passing axiallythrough the widthwise (left to right direction in FIGS. 6 to 9) centralportion of the pre-load pad 70.

On both axial end portions of the through hole 71 is respectivelyprovided taper faces 93 a and 93 b with diameters increasing towards theopening end. In a free condition, the cross-section shape of the innerperipheral face of the axial intermediate portion of the through hole 71is shaped like an approximate equilateral triangle with the adjacentstraight line portions respectively connected by a curve portion. Threelocations equally spaced around the circumferential direction of theinner peripheral face of the intermediate portion of the through hole71, which locate the intermediate portions of the straight lineportions, are made contact portions 94 which elastically abut with theouter peripheral face of the small diameter portion 68 of the worm shaft29. In the case of this example, the respective contact portions 94exist at symmetric positions in relation to a virtual plane a (FIG. 7)which passes through the withdwise central portion containing thecentral axis of the pre-load pad 70. In a portion located on theopposite side of the central axis of the through hole 71 to the onecontact portion 94 located on the widthwise central portion of thepre-load pad 70, a recess portion 95 is formed. By means of thisconstruction, the rigidity of the portion corresponding to the recessportion 95 at one part around the circumferential direction of thepre-load pad 70 is reduced, so that this portion can be readilyelastically deformed. Moreover, a discontinuous portion 90 which passesthrough both the inner and outer peripheral faces of the pre-load pad 70is provided at a position on one side (the right side in FIGS. 7 to 9)off the virtual plane α.

On the other hand, on the outer peripheral face of the pre-load pad 70,is respectively provided a first portion cylindrical face 104 on aportion on the opposite side (the lower side in FIGS. 7 to 9) to theworm wheel 28, and a second portion cylindrical portion 105 concentricwith the first portion cylindrical face 104 on a portion on the wormwheel 28 side (the upper side in FIGS. 7 to 9). A narrow protrusion 106is provided on a circumferential intermediate portion of the firstportion cylindrical face 104, and the tip end face of this protrusion106 is made a third portion cylindrical face 107 concentric with thefirst portion cylindrical face 104. Furthermore, on the outer peripheralface of the pre-load pad 70 on one axial end portion (left end portionin FIG. 5, front end portion in FIGS. 7 to 9) on the opposite side tothe holder 61, and on the opposite side portion to the worm wheel 28, isprovided an engaging protrusion 108 which protrudes radially outwards.

Such a pre-load pad 70 is assembled as shown in detail in FIGS. 8 and 9to the holder 61 which is freely and internally fixed into the gearhousing 22 (FIGS. 2, and 4 to 6). On the other axial face (the frontface in FIG. 9) of the holder 61 is formed first and second protrusions97 and 98 in pairs giving a total of four, distributed at four locationson the surrounding portion of the opening of a through hole 96. Thefirst protrusions 97 exist on the worm wheel 28 side (the upper side inFIGS. 2, 4 and 5), and the second protrusions 97 exist on the oppositeside (lower side in FIGS. 2, 4 and 5) to the worm wheel. Moreover, onthe outer diameter side face of each of the first and second protrusions97 and 98 is respectively provided partially cylindrical face portions99 which are mutually concentric. Towards the tip end portion of each ofthe second protrusions 98 is provided a first engaging protrusion 100 onthe side face on the opposite side to the worm wheel 28.

The holder 61 and the pre-load pad 70 of the construction describedabove are assembled together, and a torsion coil spring 30 is providedsurrounding these two members 61 and 70. That is to say, the pre-loadpad 70 is positioned on the inside of the first and second protrusions97 and 98 provided on the holder 61, and each of the arm portions 92provided on the pre-load pad 70 are engaged with one side (the bottomside in FIGS. 8 and 9) of the respective second protrusions 98. One sideface (the rear side face in FIGS. 8 and 9) of the first engagingprotrusion 100 provided on each of the second protrusions 98, and eachof the arm portions 92 are opposed via a small gap. While positioning apair of engaging portions 73 provided at opposite end portions of thetorsion coil spring 30 at two locations on diametrically opposite sides,between the mutually adjacent first and second protrusions 97 and 98provided on one part of the holder 61, the main portion (the coilportion) of the torsion coil spring 30 is externally fitted around theouter diameter side side faces of the respective first and secondprotrusions 97 and 98 and the outer peripheral face of the pre-load pad70. The engaging portions 73 of the torsion coil spring 30 are engagedwith the other side face (the upper side face in FIGS. 6, 8 and 9) ofthe second protrusions 98 provided on the holder 61. By means of secondengaging protruberances 101 provided on the tip end portions of theother side faces of the second protrusions 98, slipping-out of therespective engaging portions 73 is prevented. Moreover, the innerperipheral rim of the main portion of the torsion coil spring 30 iselastically pressed against the third portion cylindrical face 106provided on the opposite side (the bottom side in FIGS. 2 and 4 to 9) tothe worm wheel 28.

In the case of this example, the planar portions 91 provided on thepre-load pad 70, face the inner diameter side side faces of the firstand second protrusions 97 and 98 provided on the holder 61, with a smallgap therebetween. Due to this construction, the pre-load pad 70 isrestricted from moving in relation to the widthwise direction (the frontand rear direction in FIGS. 2, 4 and 5; the left and right direction inFIGS. 6 to 9) of the pre-load pad 70 by means of the inner diameter sideside faces. In the case of this example, the inner diameter side sidefaces of the first and second protrusions 97 and 98 correspondence tothe guide faces.

Then in a condition with the holder 61, the pre-load pad 70, and thetorsion coil spring 30 assembled in this manner, the holder 61 isinternally secured to one part of the gear housing 22. After securingthe holder 61 to the gear housing 22, the small diameter portion 68provided on the tip end portion of the worm shaft 29 is inserted intothe through hole 71 provided in the pre-load pad 70. By means of thisconstruction, an elastic force is applied to the tip end portion of theworm shaft 29, in a direction towards the worm wheel 28 (upwards inFIGS. 2, 4 and 5) from the torsion coil spring 30 via the pre-load pad70. That is to say, in a condition before the tip end portion of theworm shaft 29 is inserted into the through hole 71 provided in thepre-load pad 70, the central axis of the through hole 71 is deviated toone side (the upper side in FIGS. 4 to 9) with respect to the centralaxis of the holder 61. Then, when the tip end portion of the worm shaft29 is inserted into the inside of the through hole 71 provided in thepre-load pad 70, the diameter of the torsion coil spring 30 iselastically pressed and widened by means of the third portioncylindrical face 107 provided in the pre-load pad 70. Then, the torsioncoil spring 30 tends to elastically return in the winding direction (thediameter is contracted), so that an elastic force is applied to the tipend portion of the worm shaft 29 from the torsion coil spring 30 in adirection towards the worm wheel 28 via the pre-load pad 70. Due to thisconstruction, the distance between the central axis of the inner shaft18 to which the worm wheel 28 is externally secured, and the worm shaft29, is elastically contracted. As a result, the teeth faces of the worm27 of the worm shaft 29 and the worm wheel 28 are abutted together in apre-loaded condition.

Furthermore, based on the elastic force of the torsion coil spring 30,the tip end portion of the worm shaft 29 is moved to the recess portion95 side on the inside of the through hole 71 provided in the pre-loadpad 70, so that the pre-load pad 70 itself, as shown in FIG. 6, iselastically deformed so as to widen the space between the both side faceportions of the pre-load pad 70 facing each other across the recessportion 95. Then, the planar portions 91 of the pre-load pad 70 areelastically expanded to give a turned V-shape, so that these planarfaces 91 are elastically abutted with the inner diameter side side facesof the first and second protrusions 97 and 98 provided on the holder 61,and the gap between the planar faces 91 and the inner diameter side sidefaces is reduced.

In the case of this example, the portion of the outer peripheral face ofthe pre-load pad 70 abutting the inner peripheral rim of the torsioncoil spring 30 is formed with a partial circular arc shape, and thelength of the abutting portion is made sufficiently smaller than thelength of one turn of the torsion coil spring 30. In a condition withthe torsion coil spring 30 provided around the pre-load pad 70, a gap inthe axial direction (intermediate space between wires) is providedbetween the surfaces facing each other of the adjacent wire elements foreach of one return constituting the torsion coil spring 30. In the abovemanner, in the case of the worm reduction gear of this example and theelectric power steering apparatus equipped with this, by means of thetorsion coil spring 30, an elastic force in the direction towards theworm wheel 28 is applied to the tip end portion of the worm shaft 29 viathe pre-load pad 70. Therefore, a pre-load can be applied to the meshingportion between the worm wheel 28 and the worm shaft 29 with a low costconstruction, and the generation of the teeth hitting noise at themeshing portion can be suppressed. Furthermore, in the case of thisexample, by means of the inner diameter side side faces of the first andsecond protrusions 97 and 98 provided on the holder 61 secured to thegear housing 22, displacement in the widthwise direction of the pre-loadpad 70 can be restricted. Moreover, based on the elastic force of thetorsion coil spring 30, the tip end portion of the worm shaft 29 isdisplaced to the recess portion 95 side on the inside of the throughhole 71 provided in the pre-load pad 70, so that the pre-load pad 70itself is elastically deformed. Then, by elastically abutting the planarportions 91 of the pre-load pad 70 against the inner diameter side sidefaces, the gap between the planar portions 91 and the inner diameterside side faces is reduced. Consequently, at the time of driving theelectric motor 31 (FIGS. 1 to 4), irrespective of the reaction force inthe direction shown by arrows (a) and (b) in FIG. 7 applied from theworm wheel 28 to the worm shaft 29, the strong collision of the pre-loadpad 70 with the inner diameter side side faces of the first and secondprotrusions 97 and 98 can be prevented, so that the generation of agrating abnormal noise (collision noise) can be suppressed. Furthermore,suppressing the occurrence of this abnormal noise, does not impair theaforementioned effect of suppressing the teeth hitting noise.

In the case of this example, since the pre-load pad 70 is made ofsynthetic resin, when the end portion of the worm shaft 29 is insertedinto the inside of the through hole 71 provided in the pre-load pad 70,the pre-load pad 70 can be readily elastically deformed, and hence theinsertion operation can be performed easily. Furthermore, in the casewhere the surfaces of the adjacent wire elements for each of one returnconstituting the torsion coil spring 30 are mutually contacted in theaxial direction (constituting a tight coil spring), the occurrence offriction at the contacting portions becomes the cause of inappropriatechanging of the elastic force applied to the worm shaft 29 by thetorsion coil spring 30. To counter this, in the case of the presentexample, a gap in the axial direction is provided between the surfacesof the adjacent wire elements for each of one return of the torsion coilspring 30 (it is not a tight coil spring). Therefore a predeterminedelastic force can be more stably applied to the worm shaft 29.

In the case of this example, the engaging protrusion 108 protruding tothe outer diameter side is provided on the end portion outer peripheralface of the pre-load pad 70. Therefore the torsion coil spring 30 can bekept from falling off from the outer peripheral face of the pre-load pad70, and displacement of the torsion coil spring 30 in relation to theaxial direction of the pre-load pad 70 can be restrained.

EXAMPLE 2

Next, FIG. 10 shows a second example of the present invention. In thecase of this example, the position of contact portions 94 a between aninner peripheral face of a through hole 71 a provided in a pre-load pad70, and an outer peripheral face of a small diameter portion 68 providedon the tip end portion of a worm shaft 29 is different to the case ofthe aforementioned first example. That is to say, in the case of thisexample, the contact portions 94 a between the worm shaft 29 and thepre-load pad 70 are provided at three locations evenly spaced around thecircumferential direction, being symmetric in relation to the directionof arrow (a) in FIG. 10 being the direction of action of the reactionforce in a direction perpendicular to the central axis of the worm shaft29, for a predetermined rotation direction of the worm wheel 28 wherethe reaction force applied from the worm wheel 28 (refer to FIGS. 4 and5) to the worm shaft 29 tends to be large.

In the case of this example, at the time of driving the electric motor31 (refer to FIGS. 1 to 3), when a reaction force in the direction ofarrow (a) is applied from the worm wheel 28 to the worm shaft 29, thepre-load pad 70 can be elastically deformed with ease to openapproximately evenly and widely to both sides with respect to thedirection of arrow (a). Therefore, even in the case where a gap existsbetween the inner diameter side side faces of the first and secondprotrusions 97 and 98 (refer to FIGS. 6, 8 and 9) provided on the holder61, and the planar portions 91 of the pre-load pad 70, the elasticdeformation amount of the pre-load pad 70 can be made large, so that alarge movement of the pre-load pad 70 to the arrow (a) side based on thereaction force applied to the worm shaft 29 can be prevented.Consequently, one part of the pre-load pad 70 being strongly abuttedagainst the inner diameter side side face of the first and secondprotrusions 97 and 98 can be prevented, so that the impact force appliedto the inner diameter side side faces from the pre-load pad 70 can bealleviated, and the occurrence of noise due to the pre-load pad 70abutting against these inner diameter side side faces can be moreeffectively suppressed. Other construction and operation is the same asfor the case of the first example, and hence the same parts are denotedby the same reference symbols and repeated description is omitted.

EXAMPLE 3

Next, FIGS. 11 and 12 show a third example of the present invention. Inthe case of this example, a pre-load pad 70 a is constructed byassembling together two different elements 110 a and 100 b. These twoelements 110 a and 110 b have the discontinuous portion 90 of thepre-load pad 70 which constitutes the construction of the first exampleshown in FIGS. 1 to 9, provided centrally in the widthwise direction,and have a shape obtained by cutting the pre-load pad 70 at a positionon the opposite side to the discontinuous portion 90 in relation to thecentral axis of the through hole 71 (refer to FIG. 7). That is to say,each of the elements 110 a and 110 b are respectively provided withconcave portions 111 of an approximately half cylindrical shape in anintermediate portion in the length direction (the up and down directionin FIGS. 11 and 12) of one side face facing each other, and planarportions 112 a and 112 b on portions at both ends in the lengthdirection. Furthermore, on the other side faces being mutually oppositesides of these elements 110 a and 110 b are respectively provided planarsections 91 and arms 92. Furthermore, with these elements 110 a and 110b assembled with the planar portions 112 a and 112 b provided on each ofthe side faces confronting each other, a through hole having the sameshape as the through hole 71 provided in the pre-load pad 70 whichconstitutes the construction of the first example, is formed by means ofthe portions where the respective concave portions 111 face each other.

On the outer peripheral face of each of the elements 110 a and 110 b, isrespectively provided a first portion cylindrical face 104 a on theportion on the opposite side (the lower side in FIGS. 11 and 12) to theworm wheel 28 (refer to FIGS. 2, 4 and 5), and a second portioncylindrical face 105 a of a circular arc shape concentric with the firstportion cylindrical face 104 a. Moreover, on end portions in themutually facing widthwise direction of the respective first portioncylindrical faces 104 a, is provided narrow protrusions 106 a, and thetip end faces of these protrusions 106 a are made third portioncylindrical faces 107 a concentric with each of the first portioncylindrical faces 104 a. Furthermore, on the outer peripheral face ofeach of the elements 110 a and 110 b, on one axial end portion 61 (frontend portion in FIGS. 11 and 12), on the opposite side portion to theworm wheel 28, is provided engaging protrusions 108 a which protrudesradially outwards.

These pair of elements 110 a and 110 b and the holder 61 of theconstruction described above are assembled together, and a torsion coilspring 30 is provided surrounding the respective members 110 a, 110 band the holder 61. That is to say, the pair of elements 110 a and 110 bare positioned on the inside of the first and second protrusions 97 and98 provided on the holder 61, and the arm portion 92 provided on theelements 110 a and 110 b are engaged with one side (the bottom side inFIG. 12) of the respective second protrusions 98. Moreover, one sideface (the rear side face in FIG. 12) of the first engaging protrusion100 provided on each of the second protrusions 98, and each of the armportion 92 are opposed via a small gap.

With a pair of engaging portions 73 provided at opposite end portions ofthe torsion coil spring 30 at two locations on diametrically oppositesides, positioned between the mutually adjacent first and secondprotrusions 97 and 98 provided on one part of the holder 61, the mainportion of the torsion coil spring 30 is externally fitted over theouter diameter side side faces of the respective first and secondprotrusions 97 and 98 and the outer peripheral face of the elements 110a and 110 b. The engaging portions 73 of the torsion coil spring 30 areengaged with the other side face (the upper side face in FIG. 12) of thesecond protrusions 98 provided on the holder 61. Moreover, the innerperipheral rim of the main portion of the torsion coil spring 30 iselastically pressed against the third portion cylindrical faces 107 aprovided on the elements 110 a and 110 b.

In the case of this example, the planar portions 91 provided on each ofthe elements 110 a and 110 b, face the inner diameter side side faces ofthe first and second protrusions 97 and 98 provided on the holder 61,with a small gap therebetween. Due to this construction, the elements110 a and 110 b are restricted from moving in relation to the widthwisedirection (the left and right direction in FIGS. 11 and 12) of theelements 110 a and 110 b by means of the inner diameter side side faces.

Then in a condition with the holder 61, the elements 110 a and 110 b,and the torsion coil spring 30 assembled in this manner, the holder 61is internally secured to one part of the gear housing 22 (refer to FIGS.1 and 2). After securing the holder 61 to the gear housing 22, the smalldiameter portion 68 (refer to FIGS. 4 to 7) provided on the tip endportion of the worm shaft 29 is inserted into the through hole formed byassembling the concave portions 111 of the elements 110 a and 110 b. Bymeans of this construction, an elastic force is applied to the tip endportion of the worm shaft 29, in a direction towards the worm wheel 28from the torsion coil spring 30 via the elements 110 a and 110 b. Thenthe teeth faces of the worm 27 of the worm shaft 29 (refer to FIGS. 2, 4and 5) and the worm wheel 28 are abutted in a pre-loaded condition.

Furthermore, based on the elastic force of the torsion coil spring 30,the tip end portion of the worm shaft 29 is displaced to the oppositeside to the worm wheel 28 on the inside of the through hole 71, so thatthe planar portions 91 provided on the other side faces of the elements110 a and 110 b are elastically expanded to give an inverted V-shape.Then by elastically abutting these planar faces 91 with the innerdiameter side side faces of the first and second protrusions 97 and 98provided on the holder 61, the gap between the planar faces 91 and theinner diameter side side faces is reduced.

In the case of this example also constructed as described above, at thetime of driving the electric motor 31 (refer to FIGS. 1 to 3),irrespective of the reaction force applied from the worm wheel 28 to theworm shaft 29, the strong collision of the elements 110 a and 110 b withthe inner diameter side side faces of the first and second protrusions97 and 98 can be prevented, so that the generation of a grating abnormalnoise (collision noise) can be suppressed. Other construction andoperation is the same as for the case of the first example illustratedin FIGS. 1 to 9, and hence the same parts are denoted by the samereference symbols and repeated description is omitted.

EXAMPLE 4

Next, FIGS. 13 and 14 show a fourth example of an example of the presentinvention. In the case of this example, the arrangement direction of theholder 61, the pre-load pad 70 and the torsion coil spring 30, incontrast to the case of example 1 illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 9, isdisplaced by an angle θ in FIG. 13. That is to say, the direction shownby the arrow (c) in FIG. 13 being the displacement direction of thepre-load pad 70 along the inner diameter side side face of the first andsecond protrusions 97 and 98 provided on the holder 61, is inclined atan angle θ with respect to a virtual plane α (FIG. 13) which containsthe central axis of the worm shaft 29 and the meshing portion betweenthe worm provided on the worm shaft 29 and the worm wheel 28 (refer toFIGS. 2, 4 and 5). In the case of this example, the angles β₁ and β₂between the direction shown by the arrows (a) and (b) in FIG. 13, beingthe directions of the reaction force from the worm wheel 28 to the wormshaft 29 at the time of driving by the electric motor 31 (FIGS. 1 to 3)which differ depending on the rotation direction of the worm wheel 28,and the direction shown by the arrow (c) in FIG. 13 being thedisplacement direction of the pre-load pad 70 along the inner diameterside side face of the first and second protrusions 97 and 98, areapproximately equal (β₁≈β₂). In other words, an angle γ (FIG. 13)between the two directions shown by the arrows (a) and (b) is dividedapproximately in two by the direction shown by the arrow (c), being thedisplacement direction of the pre-load pad 70 along the inner diameterside side faces of the first and second protrusions 97 and 98.

In the case of this example constructed as described above, thedifference in the elastic displacement amounts of the pre-load pad 70based on the reaction forces in the directions of arrows (a) and (b) inFIG. 13 applied from the worm wheel 28 to the worm shaft 29 at the timeof driving by the electric motor 31, due to the dissimilarity in thesedirections can be easily reduced. Therefore, even if a small gap existsbetween the planar portions 91 of the pre-load pad 70, and the innerdiameter side side faces of the first and second protrusions 97 and 98provided on the holder 61, differences in the impact force when thepre-load pad 70 abuts with these inner diameter side side faces, due tothe abovementioned differences in directions, can also be readilyreduced. Other construction and operation is the same as for the case ofthe first example illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 9, and hence the same partsare denoted by the same reference symbols and repeated description isomitted.

While omitted from the figures, different to the case of this example,in the construction of the aforementioned first example shown in FIGS. 1to 9, if it is assumed that the drive force of the electric motor 31 isthe same, then the magnitude of the reaction force applied from the wormwheel 28 to the worm shaft 29 is made approximately the sameirrespective of the direction of this reaction force, so that thedifference in the elastic displacement amount of the pre-load pad 70based on this reaction force, due to the abovementioned differences indirections, can also be readily reduced. If such a construction isadopted, the angles between the directions of these reaction forces (thedirections shown by arrows (a) and (b) in FIG. 7), and the virtual planeα (FIG. 7) which contains the central axis of the worm shaft 29 and themeshing portion between the worm provided on the worm shaft 29 and theworm wheel 28, are approximately equal. Therefore, different to theaforementioned case of the fourth example shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, thedirection in which the pre-load pad 70 can be displaced along the innerdiameter side side face of the first and second protrusions 97 and 98provided on the holder 61 need not be inclined with respect to thevirtual plane a connecting the central axis of the worm shaft 29 and themeshing portion. For example, in the aforementioned case shown in FIGS.47 and 48, if the ratio d₂₉/L₂₉ of the distance d₂₉ in the radialdirection of the worm shaft 29, between the meshing portion and theoscillating center o of the worm shaft 29, and the distance L₂₉ in theaxial direction of the worm shaft 29, between the meshing portion andthe oscillating center o, is sufficiently small, then the magnitude ofFr can be made sufficiently small. Therefore, irrespective of thedirection of the reaction force applied from the worm wheel 28 to theworm shaft 29, the magnitude of these reaction forces can be madeapproximately equal. Consequently, with the construction of the firstexample shown in FIGS. 1 to 9, irrespective of the direction of thereaction force applied from the worm wheel 28 to the worm shaft 29, themagnitude of the reaction forces become approximately equal, so thatdifferences in the impact force when the pre-load pad 70 abuts againstthe inner diameter side side face of the first and second protrusions 97and 98, due to the differences in directions, can also be reduced.Contrary to this, by adopting the aforementioned construction shown inFIG. 13, then even if for miniaturization, the axial dimensions of theworm shaft 29 are shortened so that the aforementioned ratio d₂₉/L₂₉becomes large, reduction of the impact force can be effectivelyperformed irrespective of the direction of the reaction force.

In the case of the abovementioned examples, the pinion 11 secured to theend portion of the pinion shaft 10 (refer to FIGS. 1 and 46) and therack 12 (refer to FIG. 46) are directly meshed with each other. Howeverthe present invention is not limited to such a construction. Forexample, the construction of the present examples may be assembledtogether with a so called Variable Gear Ratio Steering (VGS) mechanismwherein a pin provided on a bottom end portion of the pinion shaft isengaged in an elongate hole of a pinion gear provided on a differentbody to the pinion shaft so as to be free to move in the lengthwisedirection of the elongate hole, and the pinion gear and the rack aremeshed, so that the ratio of the displacement amount of the rack withrespect to the rotation angle of the steering shaft is changedcorresponding to speed.

Moreover, the present invention is not limited to the construction wherean electric motor is provided surrounding the steering shaft 2. Forexample, as shown in FIG. 15, a construction is possible where theelectric motor 31 is provided on a portion in the vicinity of the pinion11 (refer to FIG. 46) which is meshed with the rack 12. In the case ofsuch a construction shown in FIG. 15, the worm wheel constituting theworm reduction gear 16 is secured to the pinion 11 or a part of a membersupported on the pinion 11. In the case of such a construction shown inFIG. 15, a torque sensor 3 (refer to FIG. 46) may be provided notsurrounding the steering shaft 2, but on a portion in the vicinity ofthe pinion 11.

As shown in FIG. 16, the electric motor 31 can also be provided on apart of the rack 12 in the vicinity of a sub pinion 75 which is meshedat a position away from the engaging portion with the pinion 11. In thecase of such a construction shown in FIG. 16, a worm wheel secured tothe sub pinion 75 is meshed with the worm shaft 29. In the case of sucha construction shown in FIG. 16 also, the torque sensor 3 (refer to FIG.46) can be provided on a portion in the vicinity of the pinion 11. Inthe construction shown in FIG. 16, a shock absorber 76 is provided in anintermediate portion of the intermediate shaft 8 to prevent vibrationwhich is transmitted from the ground by the vehicle wheels to the pinion11, from being transmitted to the steering wheel 1. This shock absorber76 is constructed for example by assembling the inner shaft and theouter shaft in telescopic form, and connecting an elastic member betweenthe end peripheral faces of these two shafts.

In this way, the assist shaft of the present invention, may be anymember of; the steering shaft, the pinion or a sub pinion which mesheswith the rack at a position separated from the pinion.

Furthermore, in the case of the abovementioned respective examples, therotor phase detector for switching the direction of the exciting currentsupplied to the coil 45, constituting the electric motor 31 is made froma brush 48 and a commutator 46 (refer to FIGS. 2 and 3). However, thepresent invention is not limited to such a construction, and as shown inFIG. 17, the rotor phase detector may be constructed from a Hall IC 77and an encoder 78 of a permanent magnet type secured to the rotationshaft 32, and the electric motor 31 may be of a so called brushlessconstruction. Moreover, in the case of the construction shown in FIG.17, the stator 39 a may be made up from a core 82 of a laminated steelplate type secured to the inner peripheral face of a case 23, and a coil83 wound at a plurality of locations on the core 82, and the rotor 38 amay comprise a permanent magnet 84 secured to an intermediate outerperipheral face of the rotation shaft 32. In the case where such aconstruction is adopted, the magnetism of the stator 39 a can also beswitched by providing a vector control unit for controlling an increaseor decrease in the magnitude of the current flowing to the stator 39 a.

In the case of the abovementioned examples, the description has been forwhere the worm reduction gear is assembled into an electric powersteering apparatus. However the worm reduction gear of the presentinvention is not limited to one employed for such a use, and for examplecan also be used in combination with an electric linear actuatorassembled into various types of mechanical equipment such as an electricbed, an electric table, an electric chair, a lifter and so on. Forexample, in the case where the worm reduction gear is assembled intothis electric linear actuator, the rotation of the electric motor isreduced by the worm reduction gear, and then taken out to the rotationshaft, and an output shaft provided surrounding this rotation shaft isextended and contracted via a ball screw. The present invention can alsobe applied to a worm reduction gear assembled into such an electriclinear actuator.

The worm reduction gear and the electric power steering apparatus of thepresent invention is constructed and operated as described above.Therefore in a construction where an elastic force is applied to theworm shaft constituting the worm reduction gear, with an elastic membervia a separate member, to suppress the generation of the teeth hittingnoise in the worm reduction gear, the generation of an abnormal noisedue to collision of this separate member with parts which restrict thedisplacement of this separate member can be suppressed.

EXAMPLE 5

FIGS. 18 to 24 show a fifth example of the present invention. Theelectric power steering apparatus of this example comprises: a steeringshaft 2 which is secured at a rear end portion to a steering wheel 1; asteering column 15 through which the steering shaft 2 passes freely; aworm reduction gear 16 a for applying a supplementary torque to thesteering shaft 2; a pinion 11 (refer to FIG. 46) provided on the frontend portion of the steering shaft 2; a rack 12 (refer to FIG. 46) whichis meshed with the pinion 11 or with a member supported on the pinion11; a torque sensor 3 (refer to FIG. 46); an electric motor 31; and acontroller 6 (refer to FIG. 46).

The steering shaft 2 is made by assembling an outer shaft 17 and aninner shaft 18 by a spline connecting section so as to freely transmit arotation force, and enable axial movement. Moreover, in the case of thisexample, the front end portion of the outer shaft 17 and the rear endportion of the inner shaft 18 are spline-connected, and connected viasynthetic resin. Consequently, for the outer shaft 17 and the innershaft 18, at the time of a collision this synthetic resin is broken sothat the total length can be shortened.

Furthermore, the cylindrical steering column 15 through which thesteering shaft 2 passes, is made by assembling an outer column 19 and aninner column 20 in telescopic form, so that in the case where an axialimpact is applied, the energy due to this impact is absorbed and thetotal length shortened, giving a so called collapsible construction.Moreover the front end portion of the inner column 20 is securelyconnected to the rear end face of a main body 135 which together with acover 136 constitutes a gear housing 22 a. The gear housing 22 a is madeup by connecting the cover 136 to the front end portion of the main body135 with bolts or the like (not shown in the figure). The inner shaft 18passes through the inside of the gear housing 22 a, and the front end ofthe inner shaft 18 protrudes from the front end face of the cover 136.

Regarding the steering column 15, the intermediate portion is supportedby a support bracket 24 on one part of a car body 26 such as the lowerface of the dash board. Furthermore, between the support bracket 24 andthe car body 26 there is provided an engaging section (not shown in thefigure) so that in the case where the support bracket 24 is subjected toan impact in the forward direction, the support bracket 24 comes awayfrom the engaging section. The upper end portion of the gear housing 22a also is supported on one part of the car body 26. By providing a tiltmechanism and a telescopic mechanism, adjustment of the front and rearposition and the height position of the steering wheel 1 can be freelymade. Such a tilt mechanism and telescopic mechanism is heretoforeknown, and are not a characteristic part of this example, and hencedetailed description is omitted.

The inner shaft 18 is constructed by connecting a first inner shaft 138and a second inner shaft 139 by means of a torsion bar 140 (FIGS. 19 and20). The torsion bar 140 is inserted inside of the second inner shaft139, and the rear end portion of the torsion bar 140 (the right end inFIG. 20) is connected to the front end portion (the left end in FIG. 20)of the first inner shaft 138, and the front end portion (the left inFIG. 20) of the torsion bar 140 is connected to the front end portion(the left end in FIG. 20) of the second inner shaft 139. The torquesensor 3 detects the direction and magnitude of a torque applied fromthe steering wheel 1 to the steering shaft 2, from the relative rotationdirection and relative rotation amount of the first and second innershafts 138 and 139, based on twisting of the torsion bar 140, and asignal (detection signal) representing the detection value is sent tothe controller 6. Then, the controller 6 sends a drive signal to theelectric motor 31 corresponding to the detection signal, to generate anassist torque in a predetermined direction and of a predeterminedmagnitude.

At the front end portion of the second inner shaft 139, the part whichprotrudes from the front end face of the cover 136 constituting the gearhousing 22 a is connected to the rear end portion of an intermediateshaft 8 (FIG. 18) via a universal joint 7. Furthermore, the front endportion of the intermediate shaft 8 is connected to an input shaft 10(FIG. 18) of a steering gear 9 via another universal joint 7. The pinion11 is connected to the input shaft 10. Furthermore, the rack 12 ismeshed with the pinion 11. In order to prevent vibration applied to theintermediate shaft 8 from the ground via the wheels, from beingtransmitted to the steering wheel 1, a vibration absorber may beprovided in each of the universal joints 7.

The worm reduction gear 16 a comprises a worm wheel 28 which can beexternally secured freely to one part of the second inner shaft 39, aworm shaft 29, and an elestic force applying device 137. The elesticforce applying device 137 comprises a torsion coil spring 141 and apre-load pad 70.

Moreover, the worm wheel 28 and the worm shaft 29 are provided on theinside of the gear housing 22 a, and the worm wheel 28 and a worm 27provided on an intermediate portion of the worm shaft 29 are meshedtogether. The electric motor 31 comprises; a case 23 which is securelyconnected to the gear housing 22 a, a stator 39 (FIG. 21) of a permanentmagnet type which is provided on the inner peripheral face of the case23, a rotation shaft 32 provided on the inside of the case 23, and arotor 38 (FIG. 21) provided on the intermediate portion of the rotationshaft 32 in a condition facing the stator 39.

Between the inner peripheral face of a concavity 41 provided in thecentral portion of a bottom plate 40 constituting the case 23, and theouter peripheral face of the base end portion of the rotation shaft 32is provided a first ball bearing 34, which rotatably supports the baseend portion (left end portion in FIGS. 19 and 21) of the rotation shaft32 with respect to the case 23. Between an inner peripheral edge of apartition 42 provided on the inner peripheral face of an intermediateportion of the case 23, and the outer peripheral face of an intermediateportion of the rotation shaft 32 is provided a second ball bearing 35,which rotatably supports the intermediate portion of the rotation shaft32 with respect to the partition 42.

Furthermore, by means of a spline engaging section 33 which is made upby spline engagement of a female spline 50 provided in the innerperipheral face of the base end portion (left end portion in FIGS. 19and 22) of the worm shaft 29, and a male spline 51 provided on the tipend portion of the rotation shaft 32 of the electric motor 31, the endportion pairs of the two shafts 29 and 32 are connected. Due to thisconstruction, the worm shaft 29 rotates together with the rotation shaft32.

A bearing holder 149 is provided inside the gear housing 22 a, and theworm shaft 19 is rotatably supported in the bearing holder 149. In thebearing holder 149, a large diameter cylindrical portion 150 and a smalldiameter cylindrical portion 151 are connected by an circular ringportion 152. Moreover, an outer ring 57 constituting a third ballbearing 36 is internally fitted inside the large diameter cylindricalportion 150. One axial end face (the right end face in FIGS. 19 and 22)of the outer ring 57 is abutted against one face (the left side face inFIGS. 19 and 22) of the circular ring portion 152, and the other axialend face (the left end face in FIGS. 19 and 22) of the outer ring 57 isheld by a lock ring 154 which is engaged in an inner peripheral face ofthe large diameter cylindrical portion 150. Moreover, an inner ring 52constituting the third ball bearing 36 is externally fitted on the outerperipheral face of the base end portion of the worm shaft 29, to aportion corresponding to the spline connection section 33 in relation tothe axial direction. Furthermore, one axial end face (the right end facein FIGS. 19 and 22) of the inner ring 52 is abutted against the sideface of a flange 53 provided on the outer peripheral face of the baseend portion of the worm shaft 29, and the other axial end face (the leftend face in FIGS. 19 and 22) of the inner ring 52 is clamped by means ofa lock ring 155 which is engaged in the base end inner peripheral faceof the worm shaft 29. For the third ball bearing 36, preferably a ballbearing of the four point contact type is used.

Furthermore, in the case of this example, the bearing holder 149 issupported on the inside of the gear housing 22 a so as to allowoscillating displacement. Therefore, a pair of first through holes 158are formed on a portion of the small diameter cylindrical portion 151which constitutes the bearing holder 149, at two locations on the radialopposite sides to the worm wheel 28 side (the upper side in FIGS. 19 and22). Moreover, as shown in FIG. 23, an oscillating shaft 159 is insertedto pass through each of these first through holes 158 on the inside ofthe bearing holder 149, while avoiding the worm shaft 29, and theportion at both ends of the oscillating shaft 159 is fitted into thesefirst through holes 158 by a clearance fit. Moreover, the portions atboth ends of the oscillating shaft 159 which protrude from the firstthrough holes 158 to the outside of the bearing holder 149 arerespectively internally fitted by a clearance fit into a concavity 160and a second through hole 161 provided in the main body 135 constitutingthe gear housing 22 a.

Of the main body 135, the outer peripheral face of the portion providedwith the second through hole 161 is over lapped with a wall 162constituting the cover 136 of the gear housing 22 a, which prevents theoscillating shaft 159 from slipping out from the second through hole161. By means of this construction, the bearing holder 149 is freelysupported with respect to the gear housing 22 a, so as to be able tooscillate about the center of the oscillating shaft 159. Different tothe case of this example, the portions at both ends of the oscillatingshaft 159 may be internally secured by a close fit to any of; the firstthrough hole 158, or the concavity 160 and the second through hole 161.

Furthermore, in the case of this example, the axis at a positiondisplaced from the central axis o₁ (FIGS. 19, 20 and 22) of the wormshaft 29 to the worm wheel 28 side, and which is parallel with thecentral axis o₂ (FIGS. 19 and 22) of the worm wheel 28, and which passesthrough the single point Q (FIGS. 19 and 22) on the straight line Lparallel with the central axis o₁ of the worm shaft 29, and includingthe intersection point x (FIGS. 19, 20 and 22) of the pitch circles P₁and P₂ for the worm 27 of the worm shaft 29 and the worm wheel 28, ismade the central axis of the oscillating shaft 159.

On the other hand, the tip end portion (the right end portion in FIGS.19 and 22) of the worm shaft 29 is rotatably supported by a fourth ballbearing 37 on the inside of the gear housing 22 a. Therefore, an outerring 60 constituting the fourth ball bearing 37 is secured to a secondbearing holder 164 which is secured inside of the gear housing 22 a. Thesecond bearing holder 164 is an overall annular shape of L-shape in across-section, and the outer ring 60 is internally secured on the insideof a cylinder portion 165 provided on one side (the left side in FIGS.19 and 22) of the second bearing holder 164. Furthermore, on the outerperipheral face at a position situated nearer the tip end of the wormshaft 29, a bush 167 of an approximately cylindrical shape made of anelastic member is loosely externally fitted to the large diameterportion 166 provided on the portion away from the worm 27. Furthermore,the tip end portion of the worm shaft 29 which passes through the insideof the bush 167 protrudes from the one axial end face (the right endface in FIGS. 19 and 22) of the bush 167. On the axial intermediateportion of the bush 167, an inner ring 65 constituting the fourth ballbearing 37 is externally secured. Furthermore, the one axial end face(the left end face in FIGS. 19 and 22) of the inner ring 65 abutsagainst the inside face of an outwardly directed flange 169 provided onthe axial other end portion (the left end portion in FIGS. 19 and 22) ofthe bush 167, to thereby provide axial positioning of the inner ring 65.A small gap is provided between the inner peripheral face of the bush167 and the outer peripheral face of the large diameter portion 166, sothat it is possible to incline (radially displace) the worm shaft 29with respect to the bush 167 within a predetermined range.

Between the other end face (the right end face in FIGS. 19 and 22) ofthe second bearing holder 164, and the bottom face of a concavity 72provided in the gear housing 22 a, there is provided a pre-load pad 142constituting an elestic force applying device 137, and a small diameterportion 171 provided on a tip end portion of the worm shaft 29 isinserted without play into one part of this pre-load pad 142. Thispre-load pad 142 as shown in detail in FIG. 24, is made into a shapewhere one side part at each of two locations on diametrically oppositesides of the outer peripheral face of a cylinder are removed, byinjection molding a synthetic resin in which is mixed a solid lubricantmaterial. Furthermore, at each of the two locations on diametricallyopposite sides on the outer peripheral face of the pre-load pad 142, aplanar section 172 and an arm portion 173 are respectively provided onthe half on the worm wheel 28 side (the upper side in FIG. 24), and onthe end on the opposite side to the worm wheel 28 (the lower side inFIG. 24). Furthermore, a small diameter portion 171 of the worm shaft 29is inserted in a through hole 174 formed in a condition passing axiallythrough the center portion of the pre-load pad 142. The inner peripheralface of the through hole 174 has the function as a sliding bearing forsupporting the small diameter portion 171. Furthermore, the innerperipheral faces at both ends of the through hole 174 are made taperedsurfaces increasing in diameter towards the open end. Such a pre-loadpad 142 is supported so as to be moveable within a predetermined rangeon the inside of the concavity 72 provided in the gear housing 22 a.

A torsion coil spring 141 is provided around the pre-load pad 142.Furthermore, a pair of engaging portions 175 provided at two locationson diametrically opposite sides on the two end portions of the torsioncoil spring 141 are engaged with one side of a pair of engagingprotrusions 176 provided in a condition protruding in the axialdirection, at two radially opposite locations on the other end face ofthe second bearing holder 164. The tip end portions of each of theengaging protrusions 176 are internally fitted to bores (not shown inthe figure) provided at two locations on the bottom face of theconcavity 72. By such a construction, the position of the engagingprotrusions 176 with respect to the gear housing 22 a can be restricted.Moreover, by elastically pressing the inner peripheral rim of thetorsion coil spring 141 against a first portion cylindrical face 177 ofthe outer peripheral faces of the pre-load pad 142, which is provided onthe opposite side to the worm wheel 28, an elastic force in a directiontowards the worm wheel 28, is applied to the tip end portion of the wormshaft 29, via the pre-load pad 142.

That is to say, in a condition before the tip end portion of the wormshaft 29 is inserted into the through hole 174 provided in the pre-loadpad 142, the central axis of the through hole 174 is deviated to oneside (the upper side in FIGS. 19, 20, 22 and 24) with respect to thecentral axis of the second bearing holder 164. Therefore, when the tipend portion of the worm shaft 29 is inserted into the inside of thethrough hole 174 provided in the pre-load pad 142, the diameter of thetorsion coil spring 141 is elastically pressed and widened by means ofthe first portion cylindrical face 177 provided in the pre-load pad 142.Then, the torsion coil spring 141 tends to elastically return in therewinding direction (the diameter is contracted), so that an elasticforce is applied to the tip end portion of the worm shaft 29 from thetorsion coil spring 141 in a direction towards the worm wheel 28. Due tothis construction, the distance between the second inner shaft 139 towhich the worm wheel 28 is externally secured, and the worm shaft 29, iselastically contracted. As a result, the teeth faces of the worm 27 ofthe worm shaft 29 and the worm wheel 28 are abutted in a pre-loadedcondition.

In the case of this example, the radius of curvature of the secondportion cylindrical face 178 of the outer peripheral face of thepre-load pad 142, which is provided on the worm wheel 28 side is smallerthan the radius of curvature of the first portion cylindrical face 177.In a condition with the torsion coil spring 141 provided around thepre-load pad 142, an axial gap (intermediate space between wires) isprovided between the surfaces of the wire elements for each of onereturn constituting the torsion coil spring 141, and the surfaces of theother wire elements adjacent to the above wire elements.

On the other hand, in order to assemble the worm shaft 29, the thirdball bearing 36 and the bearing holder 149 inside of the gear housing 22a, at first the third ball bearing 36 and the bearing holder 149 areassembled around the base end portion of the worm shaft 29. After that,the worm shaft 29, the third ball bearing 36 and the bearing holder 149are positioned on the inside of the gear housing 22 a. Then, in acondition with each of the first through holes 158 provided in thebearing holder 149, the concavity 160 and the second through hole 161provided at two locations corresponding to each other on one part of themain body 135 constituting the gear housing 22 a, matching with eachother, the oscillating shaft 159 is inserted and supported in the firstand second through holes 158 and 161, and the concavity 160. Then in acondition with the wall 162 constituting the cover 136 of the gearhousing 22 a overlapping the portion of the main body 135, which isprovided with the second through hole 161, the main body 135 and thecover 136 are connected by means of a bolt or the like (not shown in thefigure).

In the above manner, in the case of the worm reduction gear of thisexample and the electric power steering equipped with this, by means ofthe elestic force applying device 137 comprising the torsion coil spring141 and the pre-load pad 142, an elastic force in the direction towardsthe worm wheel 28 is applied to the tip end portion of the worm shaft29. Therefore, a pre-load can be applied to the meshing portion betweenthe worm wheel 28 and the worm shaft 29 with a low cost construction,and the generation of the teeth hitting noise at the meshing portion canbe suppressed. Furthermore, in the case of this example, the oscillatingshaft 159 which becomes the oscillating central axis of the worm shaft29, is provided at a position displaced to the worm wheel 28 side fromthe central axis o₁ of the worm shaft 29, and parallel with the centralaxis o₂ of the worm wheel 28. Therefore, when a drive force of theelectric motor 31 is transmitted from the worm shaft 29 to the wormwheel 28, irrespective of the reaction force being applied in the axialdirection of the worm shaft 29 from the worm wheel 28 to the worm shaft29, the moment produced in the worm shaft 29 based on this axialreaction force is small or zero. Therefore, the reaction force in theradial direction applied from the worm wheel 28 to the worm shaft 29 canbe kept from fluctuating due to the influence of the aforementionedmoment. Consequently, the difference for both rotation directions, inthe force necessary for rotating the steering wheel 1, or the returnperformance of the steering wheel 1, can be suppressed.

In particular, in the case of this example, the axis at a positiondisplaced from the central axis o₁ of the worm shaft 29 to the wormwheel 28 side, and which is parallel with the central axis o₂ of theworm wheel 28, and which passes through the single point Q on thestraight line L parallel with the central axis o₁ of the worm shaft 29,and including the intersection point x of the pitch circles P₁ and P₂for the worm 27 of the worm shaft 29 and the worm wheel 28, is made thecentral axis of the oscillating shaft 159. Therefore irrespective ofapplication of the reaction force in the axial direction of the wormshaft 29 from the worm wheel 28 to the worm shaft 29, generation of amoment on the worm shaft 29 based on the reaction force in the axialdirection can be eliminated (made zero). Consequently, the differencefor both rotation directions, in the force necessary for rotating thesteering wheel 1, or the return performance of the steering wheel 1, canbe suppressed.

In the case of this example, the bearing holder 149 which supports thethird ball bearing 36 is supported so as to be able to oscillate withrespect to the gear housing 22 a. Therefore, for the third ball bearing36, instead of one where the oscillating shaft is secured to on part ofthe outer ring, a conventional bearing in general use can be used, andthis third ball bearing 36 can be supported such as to permitoscillating displacement with respect to the gear housing 22 a, and costincreases can be suppressed.

Furthermore, in the case of this example, in relation to the axialdirection of the worm shaft 29, the oscillating shaft 159 is providedbetween the third ball bearing 36 of the third and fourth ball bearings36 and 37 which support the opposite ends of the worm shaft 29, which ison the electric motor 31 side, and the meshing portion of the worm 27 ofthe worm shaft 29 and the worm wheel 28. Therefore, a large pre-load canbe applied to the meshing portion while keeping the oscillatingdisplacement amount of the base end portion on the electric motor 31side of the worm shaft 29 small, to more effectively suppress thegeneration of a grating teeth hitting noise at the meshing portion.Different to the case of this example, in the case where the oscillatingshaft is provided on the opposite side to the electric motor 31 inrelation to the meshing portion, the oscillating displacement of thebase end portion of the worm shaft 29 becomes large.

The elestic force applying device 137 is provided on the opposite sideto the oscillating shaft 159 in relation to the meshing portion.Therefore, the elastic deformation amount of the torsion coil spring 141constituting the elestic force applying device 137 can be made large, sothat the magnitude of the elastic force applied to the worm shaft 29 canbe readily adjusted.

In the case of this example, since the pre-load pad 142 is made ofsynthetic resin, the tip end portion of the worm shaft 29 can be easilyinserted into the inside of the through hole 174 provided in thepre-load pad 142. Furthermore, in the case where the surfaces of thewire elements for each of one return constituting the torsion coilspring 141, and the surfaces of the other wire elements adjacent to theabove wire elements are contacted in the axial direction, the occurrenceof friction at the contacting portions becomes the cause ofinappropriate changing of the elastic force applied to the worm shaft 29by the torsion coil spring 141. To counter this, in the case of thepresent example, an axial gap is provided between the surfaces of thewire elements for each of one return, and the other wire elementsadjacent to the above wire elements. Therefore a predetermined elasticforce can be more stably applied to the worm shaft 29.

EXAMPLE 6

FIGS. 25 and 26 show a sixth example of the present invention. In thecase of this example, elastic rings 179 are provided between the outerperipheral faces of both end portions of a oscillating shaft 159 forsupporting a bearing holder 149 with respect to a gear housing 22 a soas to allow oscillating displacement, and the inner peripheral faces offirst through holes 158 provided in the bearing holder 149. Theseelastic rings 179 are provided between an inner diameter sidecylindrical portion 180 and an outer diameter side cylindrical portion181 both made from metal, and are connected concentric with each otherby means of a connection portion 182 made of rubber being an elasticmember. That is to say, the connection portions 182 are vulcanized andbonded to the two cylindrical portions 180 and 181 to thereby connectthese two cylindrical portions 180 and 181. These connecting portions182 are provided in a condition separated from each other at twopositions on diametrically opposite sides between the two cylindricalportions 180 and 181. More specifically, the connecting portions 182 areprovided at two locations (two locations at opposite ends in the up anddown direction in FIGS. 25 and 26) of the ends of the intermediateportion, on the worm wheel 28 side (refer to FIGS. 19, 20 and 22) andthe opposite side, and opposite ends in relation to the axial directionof the worm shaft 29, which are 90 degrees out of phase with theportions provided with the connecting portions 182 are made spaceportions 183. Due to this construction, the rigidity of the respectiveelastic rings 179 in relation to the radial direction of the oscillatingshaft 159 is different in the circumferential direction. Moreover, therigidity of these elastic rings 179 is lower in relation to the axialdirection of the worm shaft 29.

According to the above worm reduction gear of this example, generationof the teeth hitting noise at the meshing portion between the worm 27 ofthe worm shaft 29 and the worm wheel 28 can be suppressed withoutneedlessly increasing the rotational torque of the worm shaft 29. Thatis to say, when the worm shaft 29 is supported such that axialdisplacement with respect to the gear housing 22 a is impossible, theworm shaft 29 is readily able to rotate when a rotational vibration isinput to the worm wheel 28. Furthermore, since a large inertial momentelectric motor 31 rotating shaft 32 (refer to FIGS. 19, 21 and 22) isconnected to this worm shaft 29, the force transmitted between the teethof the worm 27 of the worm shaft 29 and the worm wheel 28 increases,based on this rotational vibration of the worm wheel 28. Consequently itis necessary to increase the elastic force applied to the worm shaft 29by the elestic force applying device 137 (refer to FIG. 19) so that evenwhen this force is applied, the mating teeth do not separate. However ifthis elastic force becomes excessive the rotational torque of the wormshaft 29 becomes needlessly large. On the other hand, in the case ofthis example, the elastic rings 179 with part made of an elastic memberare provided between the bearing holder 149 and the oscillating shaft159. Therefore, when a rotational vibration is input to the worm wheel28, the worm shaft 29 is readily displaced in the axial direction, androtation of the worm shaft 29 becomes difficult. Therefore, the forcetransmitted between the teeth faces can be made small. As a result,separation of the teeth faces can be prevented without needlesslyincreasing the rotational torque of the worm shaft 29, and generation ofthe teeth hitting noise at the meshing portion can be suppressed.Moreover, transmission of vibration based on collision of the teethfaces, to the gear housing 22 a can be made more difficult, andgeneration of an abnormal noise based on this vibration can besuppressed.

Furthermore, in the case of this example, the rigidity of the respectiveelastic rings 179 is made different in the circumferential direction,and the rigidity of the elastic rings 179 in relation to the axialdirection of the worm shaft 29 is made less. Therefore, the rigiditynecessary for the elastic rings 179 overall can be maintained and theworm shaft 29 can be readily displaced in the axial direction inrelation to the gear housing 22 a. Consequently, an increase in therotation torque of the worm shaft 29 can be more effectively suppressed.Other construction and operation is the same as for the case of thefifth example illustrated in FIGS. 18 to 24, and hence the same partsare denoted by the same reference symbols and repeated description isomitted.

EXAMPLE 7

FIG. 27 shows a seventh example of the present invention. In the case ofthis example, the elastic rings 179 used in the sixth example shown inFIGS. 25 and 26 are provided between the inner peripheral face of aconcavity 160 and a second through hole 161 provided in the gear housing22 a, and an outer peripheral face of the opposite ends of theoscillating shaft 159. Other construction and operation is the same asfor the sixth example. In the construction of the sixth and seventhexamples shown in FIG. 25 to 27, as the elastic member constituting theconnection portion 182 of the elastic ring 179, an elastomer, asynthetic resin or the like, other than rubber may be used. Furthermore,it is also possible to make the overall elastic ring 179 from anelastomer such as synthetic resin.

EXAMPLE 8

FIGS. 28 and 29 shown an eighth example of the present invention. In thecase of this example, a coil spring 186 serving as an elestic forceapplying device is provided between the rotation shaft 32 of theelectric motor 31 and the worm shaft 29 in the construction of the fifthexample shown in FIGS. 18 to 24. That is to say, in the case of thisexample, a concavity 184 is provided in one end face (the right end facein FIG. 28) of the rotation shaft 32, and between the bottom face of theconcavity 184 and the bottom face of a spline hole 185 provided in thebase end face (the left end face in FIG. 28) of the worm shaft 29 isprovided the coil spring 186. Then, by means of this coil spring 186, anelastic force is applied to the worm shaft 29 in a direction to separatethis from the rotation shaft 32. Also in the case of this example, aswith the aforementioned case of the fifth to seventh examples, theoscillating shaft 159 which becomes the oscillating center of the wormshaft 29, is provided at a position displaced from the central axis o₁of the worm shaft 29 towards the worm wheel 28 side (the upper side inFIG. 28). Due to this construction, the worm shaft 29 is elasticallyoscillated about the oscillating shaft 159 towards the worm wheel 28side.

Moreover, in the case of this example, the outer peripheral face of thetip end portion of the worm shaft 29 is a simple cylindrical surfacewithout a step, and the tip end portion is positioned on the inside of aconcavity 72 provided in the gear housing 22 a. Furthermore, between theinner peripheral face of the concavity 72 and the outer peripheral faceof the tip end portion of the worm shaft 29, there is provided anelastic ring 187 corresponding to the second elastic ring, and a fourthball bearing 37. An inner ring 65 of the fourth ball bearing 27 isexternally fitted and secured to the tip end portion of the worm shaft29, and thereby provided around the tip end portion.

Furthermore, regarding the elastic ring 187, as shown in detail in FIG.29, an inner diameter side cylindrical portion 188 and an outer diameterside cylindrical portion 189 both made of metal are connected to eachother concentrically by means of connection portions 190 made of anelastic member such as an elastomer like rubber. Furthermore, each ofthese connecting portions 190 are provided in a condition separated fromeach other at two locations on diametrically opposite sides of theintermediate portion of the two cylindrical portions 188 and 189. Morespecifically, in the intermediate portions therebetween, the respectiveconnecting portions 190 are provided only at two locations on oppositeends of the direction (left and right direction in FIG. 29) which is 90degrees out of phase in relation to the oscillating displacementdirection (the up and down direction in FIG. 29) of the worm shaft 29.Due to this construction, the rigidity of the elastic ring 187 becomeslower in relation to the oscillating displacement direction of the wormshaft 29, and becomes higher in relation to the direction 90 degrees tothe oscillating displacement direction.

Moreover, in the case of this example, at the portions in between theinner diameter side and outer diameter side cylindrical portions 188 and189, stopper portions 191 of a partial arcuate shape in cross-sectionand made of an elastic member such as an elastomer like rubber, areprovided at two locations on the inner peripheral surface of the outerdiameter side cylindrical portion 189, on opposite ends in the directionof the oscillating displacement direction of the worm shaft 29. A smallgap is provided between the inner peripheral surface of the respectivestopper portions 191 and the outer peripheral surface of the innerdiameter side cylindrical portions 188. Regarding each of these stopperportions 191, in the case where the worm shaft 29 becomes inclined withan excessive oscillating displacement, the stopper portion 191 contactsagainst the outer peripheral face of the inner diameter side cylindricalportion 188, and hence the excessive oscillating displacement of theworm shaft 29 is prevented. Such an elastic ring 187 can be providedbetween the worm shaft 29 and the gear housing 22 a by externallysecuring the inner diameter side cylindrical portion 188 onto an outerring constituting the fourth ball bearing 37, and internally securingthe outer diameter side cylindrical portion 189 into the concavity 72provided in the gear housing 22 a.

In the case of the examples constructed as described above, since thecoil spring 186 is provided between the one end face of the rotationshaft 32 of the electric motor 31, and the base end face of the wormshaft 29, a pre-load based on the elastic force of the coil spring 186can be applied to the third ball bearing 36 via the lock ring 155engaged with the base end portion of the worm shaft 29. Therefore, whilesuppressing the abnormal noise, a deep-grooved ball bearing having acomparatively large axial clearance can be used for the third ballbearing 36, and hence costs can be reduced.

Moreover, in the case of this example, by providing the elastic ring 187between the fourth ball bearing 37 which supports the tip end portion ofthe worm shaft 29, and the gear housing 22 a, oscillating displacementof the worm shaft 29 with respect to the gear housing 22 a is madepossible. Therefore, generation of an abnormal noise due to collisionbetween the tip end portion of the worm shaft 29 and the fourth ballbearing 37 can be prevented, without losing the effect of suppressingthe generation of the teeth hitting noise at the meshing portion betweenthe worm 27 of the worm shaft 29 and the worm wheel 28.

Moreover, in the case of this example, the rigidity of the elastic ring187 provided between the fourth ball bearing 37 and the gear housing 22a is reduced for the part related to the oscillating displacementdirection of the worm shaft 29, and is increased for the part related tothe direction which is 90 degrees out of phase to the oscillatingdisplacement direction. Therefore, oscillating displacement of the wormshaft 29 towards the worm wheel 28 side can be more readily performedwhile preventing displacement of the worm shaft in an unintendeddirection, and generation of the teeth hitting noise at the meshingportion can be more effectively suppressed.

Furthermore, in the case of this example, since a stopper portion 191for restricting the oscillating displacement of the worm shaft 29 isprovided on the elastic ring 187, excessive oscillating displacement ofthe worm shaft 29 can be prevented. Other construction and operation isthe same as for the case of the fifth example illustrated in FIGS. 18 to24, and hence the same parts are denoted by the same reference symbolsand repeated description is omitted.

EXAMPLE 9

FIG. 30 shows a ninth example of the present invention. In the case ofthis example, a coil spring 186 serving as an elestic force applyingdevice is provided between the bearing holder 149 and the gear housing22 a in the construction of the eighth example shown in FIGS. 28 and 29.That is to say, in the case of this example, the coil spring 186 isprovided between the inner face of the gear housing 22 a, and the bottomof a concavity 192 provided in the outer peripheral face of the largediameter cylindrical portion 150 constituting the bearing holder 149.Furthermore, by means of the coil spring 186, an elastic force isapplied in the radial direction to the base end portion of the wormshaft 29. The coil spring 186 is provided at a position displacedfurther to the base end side of the worm shaft 29 than the oscillatingshaft 159 which becomes the oscillating center of the worm shaft 29, inrelation to the axial direction of the worm shaft 29. Due to thisconstruction, the worm shaft 29 is elastically oscillated about theoscillating shaft 159 towards the worm wheel 28 side.

In the case of this example, a pre-load can be applied to the meshingportion without increasing the overall length of the portion created byconnecting the worm shaft 29 to the rotation shaft 32 of the electricmotor 31. Other construction and operation is the same as for the caseof the eighth example illustrated in FIGS. 28 and 29, and hence the sameparts are denoted by the same reference symbols and repeated descriptionis omitted

EXAMPLE 10

FIG. 31 shows a tenth example of the present invention. In the case ofthis example, the third and fourth ball bearings 36 and 37 provided forsupporting the opposite ends of the worm shaft 29 in the construction ofthe eighth example shown in FIGS. 28 and 29 are supported by a bearingholder 149 a. Therefore, in the case of this example, the overall lengthof a small diameter cylindrical portion 151 a constituting the bearingholder 149 a is increased, and a through hole 193 is formed in one partaround the circumferential direction at the axial intermediate portionof the small diameter cylindrical portion 151 a. Furthermore, the wormshaft 29 is provided on the inside of the bearing holder 149 a, and athird ball bearing 36 is provided between the outer peripheral face ofthe base end portion of the worm shaft 29 and the inner peripheral faceof a large diameter cylindrical portion 150 constituting the bearingholder 149 a, and a fourth ball bearing 37 is provided between the outerperipheral face of the tip end portion of the worm shaft 29 and theinner peripheral face of the tip end portion of the small diametercylindrical portion 151 a. An elastic ring 194 (corresponding to theelastic member) made of an elastic member such as an elastomer likerubber is provided between the outer peripheral face of the tip endportion of the small diameter cylindrical portion 151 a and the innerperipheral face of a concavity 72 provided in the gear housing 22 a.Moreover, the portion at one part of the worm 27 of the worm shaft 29,which is exposed to the outside of the small diameter cylindricalportion 151 a from the through hole 193 provided in the small diametercylindrical portion 151 a, is meshed with the worm wheel 28.

In the case of this example, as with the case of the eighth exampleshown in FIGS. 28 and 29, generation of an abnormal noise due tocollision between the tip end portion of the worm shaft 29 and thefourth ball bearing 37 can be prevented, without losing the effect ofsuppressing the generation of the teeth hitting noise at the meshingportion between the worm 27 of the worm shaft 29 and the worm wheel 28.Moreover, excessive oscillating displacement of the worm shaft 29 can beprevented. Other construction and operation is the same as for the caseof the eighth example illustrated in FIGS. 28 to 29, and hence the sameparts are denoted by the same reference symbols and repeated descriptionis omitted.

EXAMPLE 11

FIG. 32 shows an eleventh example of the present invention. In the caseof this example, at the portion facing the tip end face of the wormshaft 29 in one part of the gear housing 22 a, in the construction ofthe tenth example shown in FIG. 31, a through hole 195 which passesthrough the inside and outside faces of the gear housing 22 a is formed.A bottomed cylindrical cap 196 made of an elastic member such as anelastomer like rubber or a synthetic resin is internally fitted into thethrough hole 195. Furthermore, the tip end portion of the small diametercylindrical portion 151 a constituting the bearing holder 149 a isinternally supported on a protruding portion 198 provided on the innerperipheral face of the tip end portion of a cylindrical portion 197constituting the cap 196. In the this example, the cap 196 correspondsto the elastic member. Other construction and operation is the same asfor the case of the tenth example illustrated in FIG. 31, and hencerepeated description is omitted.

EXAMPLE 12

FIGS. 33 and 34 show a twelfth example of the present invention. In thecase of this example, in the construction of the tenth example shown inFIG. 31, a plate 199 which covers the tip end opening of the smalldiameter cylindrical portion 151 a of the bearing holder 149 a isprovided, and a shaft portion 200 protruding axially is provided on thetip end face central portion of the plate 199. Furthermore, an elasticring 201 corresponding to a second elastic ring is provided between theouter peripheral face of the shaft portion 200 and the inner peripheralface of a concavity 72 provided in the gear housing 22 a. This elasticring 201, as shown in detail in FIG. 34, has an outer diameter sidecylindrical portion 202 and an inner diameter side cylindrical portion203 both made of metal connected to each other concentrically by meansof a connecting portion 204 made of an elastic member such as anelastomer like rubber. Furthermore, an axial half portion (the left halfportion in FIG. 33) of the outer diameter side cylindrical portion 202protrudes axially further than the axial end face (the left end face inFIG. 33) of the inner diameter side cylindrical portion 203, and theoverall length of the outer diameter side cylindrical portion 202 isgreater than the overall length of the inner diameter side cylindricalportion 203. On the outer peripheral rim of the axial one end face (theleft end face in FIG. 33) of the connecting portion 204 is provided aprotruding portion 205 which protrudes in the axial direction, and thisprotruding portion 205 is connected to the inner peripheral face at theaxial half portion of the outer diameter side cylindrical portion 202.

Moreover, through holes 206 which pass through in the axial directionare provided in part of the connecting portion 204, at two locations ondiametrically opposite sides located at both end portions in theoscillating displacement direction (the up down direction in FIGS. 16and 17) of the worm shaft 29. By means of this construction, therigidity of the elastic ring 201 is reduced for the part related to theoscillating displacement direction of the worm shaft 29, and isincreased for the part related to the direction which is 90 degrees outof phase to the oscillating displacement direction. This elastic ring201 is provided between the gear housing 22 a and the shaft portion 200,with the outer diameter side cylindrical portion 202 internally securedto the concavity 72 provided in the gear housing 22 a, and the innerdiameter side cylindrical portion 203 externally secured to the shaftportion 200 provided on the tip end face of the bearing holder 149 a.The inner peripheral face of the protruding portion 205 provided on theconnecting portion 204 is opposed to the outer peripheral face of thetip end portion of the small diameter cylindrical portion 151 aconstituting the bearing holder 149 a via a small gap. In this example,the protruding portion 205 corresponds to the stopper portion forrestricting oscillating displacement of the worm shaft 29.

In the case of this example, the portion of low rigidity of the elasticring 201, and the protruding portion 205 serving the function of astopper portion for preventing excessive oscillating displacement of theworm shaft 29 are displaced from each other in the axial direction ofthe elastic ring 201 Other construction and operation is the same as forthe case of the tenth example illustrated in FIG. 31, and hence the sameparts are denoted by the same reference symbols and repeated descriptionis omitted.

EXAMPLE 13

FIG. 35 shows a thirteenth example of the present invention. In the caseof this example, this has a construction where the construction of theninth example shown in FIG. 30 and the construction of the tenth example10 shown in FIG. 31 are combined. That is to say, in the case of thisexample, in the construction of the tenth example shown in FIG. 31,between the outer peripheral face of the large diameter cylindricalportion 150 constituting the bearing holder 149 a which supports thethird ball bearing 36 and the fourth ball bearing 37 (refer to FIG. 31),and the inner peripheral face of the gear housing 22 a, a coil spring186 is provided in a radial direction of the bearing holder 149 a. Otherconstruction and operation is the same as for the case of the ninthexample illustrated in FIG. 30 and the tenth example illustrated in FIG.31, and hence the same parts are denoted by the same reference symbolsand repeated description is omitted.

EXAMPLE 14

Next, FIGS. 36 and 37 show a fourteenth example of the presentinvention. In the case of this example, in the construction of the tenthexample shown in FIG. 31, one end portion (the right end portion in FIG.36) of a rotation shaft 32 a of the electric motor 31, and the base endportion (the left end portion in FIG. 36) of a worm shaft 29 a areconnected in a condition with mutual relative rotation prevented, via aconnecting ring 207 made of an elastic material. This connecting ring207, as shown in detail in FIG. 37 is made in a cylindrical shape froman elastic member such as an elastomer like rubber, and through holes208 of an approximately triangular shape in cross-section are formedpassing through in the axial direction at a plurality of places (eightplaces in the case shown in the figure) at even spacing around thecircumferential direction.

At a plurality of locations (four locations in the case of the exampleshown in the figure) around the circumferential direction of the portiontowards the outer diameter of the base end face (the left end face inFIG. 36) of the worm shaft 29 a, and the portion towards the outerdiameter of the one end face (the right end face in FIG. 36) of therotation shaft 32 a, at positions matching with each alternate throughhole 208 provided in the connecting ring 207, there is providedprotrusions 209 a and 209 b which each protrude in the axial direction.Each of these protrusions 209 a and 209 b are freely internally fittedwithout play into each of the through holes 208 provided in theconnecting ring 207. Furthermore, each of the protrusions 209 a providedon the worm shaft 29 a, and each of the protrusions 209 b provided onthe rotation shaft 32 a are internally fitted without play in alternateshifts, in relation to the circumferential direction, from the axialdirection opposite sides of the connecting ring 207 into the respectivethrough holes 208, so that the worm shaft 29 a and the rotation shaft 32a are connected via the connecting ring 207. Moreover, in the case ofthis example, a coil spring 186 is provided between the bottom face ofthe concavity 210 provided in the base end central portion of the wormshaft 29 a, and the central portion of the one end face of the rotationshaft 32 a, and exerts an elastic force on the worm shaft 29 a in adirection to separate from the rotation shaft 32 a.

In the case of this example, the worm shaft 29 a and the rotation shaft32 a are connected via the connecting ring 207. Therefore, transmissionof rotational vibration between the rotation shaft 32 a and the wormshaft 29 a can be inhibited. Other construction and operation is thesame as for the case of the tenth example illustrated in FIG. 31, andhence the same parts are denoted by the same reference symbols andrepeated description is omitted.

While omitted from the figure, a difference to the case of this exampleis that at the formation location of the through holes 208 provided inthe connecting ring 207, instead of the through holes 208, there may bealternately provided around the circumferential direction a plurality offirst and second concavities for each. In this case, the bottom portionsof these first and second concavities are made on opposites sides withrespect to the axial direction of the connecting ring 207. Furthermore,the protrusions 209 a provided on the base end face of the worm shaft29, and the protrusions 209 b provided on the one end face of therotation shaft 32 a are internally fitted into each of the first andsecond respective concavities, so that the worm shaft 29 a and therotation shaft 32 a are connected via the connecting ring 207.

In the abovementioned fifth through fourteenth examples, grease may befilled between the gear housing 22 a and the bearing holder 149, 149 awhich supports at least one of the ball bearings 36 (or 37) of the thirdand fourth ball bearings 36 and 37 which rotatably support the oppositeend portions of the worm shafts 29, 29 a. In the case where such aconstruction is adopted, when transmitting the drive force between theworm shaft 29, 29 a, and the worm wheel 28, if a tendency occurs forseparation of the worm shaft 29, 29 a from the worm wheel 28 based onthe reaction force applied from the worm wheel 28 to the worm shaft 29,29 a, oscillating displacement of the bearing holder 149, 149 a can beinhibited. When the drive force increases, the reaction force increases,and a tendency occurs for the speed of separation of the worm shaft 29,29 a from the worm wheel 28 to increase. In this case, the viscousresistance of the grease also increases. Therefore oscillatingdisplacement of the bearing holder can be suppressed, and separation ofthe teeth faces of the worm 20 of the worm shaft 29, 29 a and the wormwheel 28 can be readily prevented.

In the above mentioned fifth through fourteenth examples, the bearingholder 149, 149 a which supports at least one of the ball bearings 36(or 37) of the third and fourth ball bearings 36 and 37 which rotatablysupport the opposite end portions of the worm shaft 29, 29 a, may bemade of magnesium alloy. In the case where such a construction isadopted, vibration generated in the worm shaft 29, 29 a due to collisionof the teeth faces of the worm 20 of the worm shaft 29, 29 a and theworm wheel 28 can be readily absorbed by the bearing holder 149, 149 a.Therefore transmission of this vibration to the gear housing 22 a can beinhibited.

In the above case, the pinion 11 secured to the end portion of thepinion shaft 10 (refer to FIGS. 5 and 46) and the rack 10 (refer to FIG.46) are directly meshed with each other. However the present inventionis not limited to such a construction. For example, the construction ofthe aforementioned fifth through fourteenth examples may be assembledtogether with a so called Variable Gear Ratio Steering (VGS) mechanismwherein a pin provided on a bottom end portion of the pinion shaft isengaged in an elongate hole of a pinion gear provided on a differentbody to the pinion shaft so as to be free to move in the lengthwisedirection of the elongate hole, and the pinion gear and the rack aremeshed, so that the ratio of the displacement amount of the rack withrespect to the rotation angle of the steering shaft is changedcorresponding to speed.

Moreover, the present invention is not limited to the construction wherethe electric motor 31 is provided surrounding the steering shaft 2. Forexample, as shown in FIG. 38, a construction is possible where theelectric motor 31 is provided on a portion in the vicinity of the pinion11 (refer to FIGS. 5 and 46) which is meshed with the rack 12. In thecase of such a construction shown in FIG. 38, the worm wheelconstituting the worm reduction gear 16 a is secured to the pinion 11 ora part of a member supported on the pinion 11. In the case of such aconstruction shown in FIG. 38, a torque sensor 3 (refer to FIG. 46) maybe provided not surrounding the steering shaft 2, but on a portion inthe vicinity of the pinion 11. Also in the case of the constructionshown in FIG. 38, the present invention can be implemented.

Moreover, as shown in FIG. 39, the electric motor 31 can also beprovided on a part of the rack 12 in the vicinity of a sub pinion 211which is meshed at a position away from the engaging portion with thepinion 11. In the case of the construction shown in FIG. 39, a wormwheel secured to the sub pinion 211 is meshed with the worm shaft 29 (29a). In the construction shown in FIG. 39 also, the torque sensor 3(refer to FIG. 46) can be provided on a portion in the vicinity of thepinion 11. In the construction shown in FIG. 39, a shock absorber 212 isprovided in an intermediate portion of the intermediate shaft 8 toprevent vibration which is transmitted from the ground by the vehiclewheels to the pinion 11, from being transmitted to the steering wheel 1.This shock absorber 212 is constructed for example by assembling theinner shaft and the outer shaft in telescopic form, and connecting anelastic member between the end peripheral faces of these two shafts.Also in the case of the construction shown in FIG. 39, the presentinvention can be implemented.

EXAMPLE 15

Next, FIGS. 40 to 45 show a fifteenth example of the present invention.The electric power steering apparatus of this example comprises: asteering shaft 2 (refer to FIGS. 1 and 46) being an assist shaft whichis secured at a rear end portion to a steering wheel 1; a steeringcolumn 15 (refer to FIGS. 1 and 46) through which the steering shaft 2passes freely; a worm reduction gear 16 b for applying a supplementarytorque to the steering shaft 2; a pinion 11 (refer to FIG. 46) providedon the front end portion of the steering shaft 2; a rack 12 (refer toFIG. 46) which is meshed with the pinion 11 or with a member supportedon the pinion 11; a torque sensor 3 (refer to FIG. 46); an electricmotor 31; and a controller 6 (refer to FIG. 46).

The worm reduction gear 16 b comprises a worm wheel 28 which can beexternally secured freely to one part of an inner shaft 18 (refer toFIG. 1) constituting the steering shaft 2, a worm shaft 29, a torsioncoil spring 30 a, and a pre-load pad 213 a.

The torque sensor 3 is provided surrounding the intermediate portion ofthe steering shaft 2, and detects the direction and magnitude of atorque applied to the steering shaft 2 from the steering wheel 1, andsends a signal (detection signal) representing the detection value tothe controller 6. Then the controller 6 sends a drive signal to theelectric motor 31 corresponding to this detection signal, so that anauxiliary torque is produced of a predetermined magnitude in apredetermined direction.

The worm wheel 28 and the worm shaft 29 are provided on the inside ofthe gear housing 22, and the worm wheel 28 and a worm 27 provided on anintermediate portion of the worm shaft 29 are meshed together.Furthermore, by means of a spline connection section 33 which is made upby spline engagement of a female spline 50 provided in the innerperipheral face of the base end portion (left in FIG. 40) of the wormshaft 29, and a male spline 51 provided on the tip end portion of arotation shaft 32 constituting the electric motor 31, the end portionpairs of the two shafts 29 and 32 are connected. Due to thisconstruction, the worm shaft 29 rotates together with the rotation shaft32.

The base end portion of the worm shaft 29 on the inside of the gearhousing 22 is rotatably supported by the third ball bearing 36 servingas a first bearing. Moreover, an inner ring 52 constituting the thirdball bearing 36 is externally fitted on the outer peripheral face of thebase end portion of the worm shaft 29, to a portion axiallycorresponding to the spline connection section 33. Furthermore, theaxial central position of the spline connection section 33, and theaxial central position of the third ball bearing 36 are made toapproximately coincide. A small gap is provided between the innerperipheral face of the inner ring 52 and the outer peripheral face ofthe worm shaft 29, so that it is possible to incline the worm shaft 29with respect to the third ball bearing 36 within a predetermined range.Moreover, between the axial opposite end faces of the inner ring 52 andthe side face of a flange 214 provided on the outer peripheral face of anut 55 which is threadedly secured to a threaded portion 54 provided onthe base end portion of the worm shaft 29, and the side face of a flange53 provided on the outer peripheral face of the base end portion of theworm shaft 29, there is respectively provided elastic rings 215. Betweenthe side faces of the flanges 53 and 214, the inner ring 52 iselastically sandwiched. By means of this construction, the worm shaft 29is supported so as to be able to elastically displace with respect tothe third ball bearing 36, within a predetermined range in the axialdirection. Preferably, a ball bearing of a four point contact type isused for the third ball bearing 36.

On the other hand, the tip end portion (the right end portion in FIGS.40 and 41) of the worm shaft 29 is rotatably supported on the inside ofthe gear housing 22 by the fourth ball bearing 37 serving as a secondbearing. Therefore, in the case of this example, a bearing holder 216being the buffer member is internally secured in the concavity 72provided in the gear housing 22. This bearing holder 216 as shown indetail in FIGS. 41 to 45, is made from a pair of bearing holder elements217 each made of a synthetic resin which are assembled to together asone, and a large diameter cylindrical portion 218 and a small diametercylindrical portion 219 are connected to each other concentrically. Ontwo locations on diametrically opposite sides of the inner peripheralface of the large diameter cylindrical portion 218, is provided a pairof planar portions 234 (FIG. 43) parallel with each other. Furthermore,on the inner peripheral face of the end portion (the left end portion inFIGS. 40, 41, the rear end in FIG. 44) of the large diameter cylindricalportion 218, on the opposite side to the small diameter cylindricalportion 219, and at a position 90 degrees out of phase with therespective planar portions 234, a pair of inwardly directed flanges 220a, 220 b are respectively formed in a condition protruding inwards.Moreover, a space between the inside face of these inwardly directedflanges 220 a, 220 b, and the inside face (the left side face in FIGS.40 and 41) of the small diameter cylindrical portion 219, issubstantially the same as the axial length of the outer ring 60constituting the fourth ball bearing 37. The inner diameter of theportion away from the respective planar portions 234 on the innerperipheral face of the large diameter cylindrical portion 218 is madelarger than the outer diameter of the outer ring 60. On the other hand,the space d₂₃₄ between the two planar portions 234 is substantially thesame as the outer diameter of the outer ring 60. By means of thisconstruction, in a condition with the outer ring 60 internally fittedand supported on the large diameter cylindrical portion 218,displacement of the outer ring 60 in the axial direction is prevented.On the other hand, displacement of the outer ring 60 is possible in theradial direction within a predetermined range (until the outerperipheral face of the outer ring 60 abuts against the inner peripheralface of the large diameter cylindrical portion 218) only in a directionalong the planar portions 234. That is to say, displacement in the leftand right direction in FIGS. 43 and 44 of the outer ring 60 isprevented. Moreover, an engaging groove 221 is formed around the wholecircumference in the axial intermediate portion of the outer peripheralface of the large diameter cylindrical portion 218. Such a bearingholder 216 has a shape obtained by dividing the bearing holder 216 intotwo parts by a virtual plane containing the central axis, and is made upby abutting together the circumferential opposite end faces of the pairof bearing holder elements 217.

Moreover, in order to construct the small diameter cylindrical portion219, planar portions 233 which are parallel with the planar portions 234are respectively provided at the circumferential central portions ofsemi-cylindrical portions 223 provided on the bearing holder elements217. Furthermore, on the intermediate portion of these planar portions233, notches 222 a and 222 b (FIGS. 42, 44 and 45) passing through inthe radial direction are formed in a condition each with one end openingto the end face of the planar portions 233. These notches 222 a and 222b are for engaging opposite end portions of a torsion coil spring 30 aas described later, and as shown in detail in FIGS. 45( a) and (b), havea different shape to each other. That is to say, the notches 222 a and222 b differ to each other in the length from the tip end face of theplanar portions 233 to the back end. In the back end of the respectivenotches 222 a and 222 b is provided bend portions 235 which bend in thesame direction. In a condition with the bearing holder elements 217assembled to constitute the bearing holder 216, these notches 222 a and222 b exist at two locations on approximately diametrically oppositesides of the bearing holder 216.

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 43, in a condition with the fourth ballbearing 37 assembled, the circumferential opposite end faces of the pairof bearing holder elements 217 are abutted together so that all of theportions of the axial opposite side faces and the outer peripheral faceof the outer ring 60 constituting the fourth ball bearing 37 are coveredby the large diameter cylindrical portion 218 of the bearing holder 216,the inwardly directed flanges 220 a and 220 b, and the small diametercylindrical portion 219 (FIG. 41), to thereby give the bearing holder216. Moreover in this condition, an elastic ring 224 made of anelastomer like rubber is engaged in the engaging groove 221. On theinner diameter side of the inner ring 65 constituting the fourth ballbearing 37 is internally fitted a bush 225 for allowing sliding in theaxial direction of the worm shaft 29.

On the inside of the small diameter cylindrical portion 219 constitutingthe bearing holder 216 is arranged a pre-load pad 213 a. The pre-loadpad 213 a, as shown in detail in FIG. 44 is made in a substantiallycylindrical shape by injection molding a synthetic resin which is mixedwith a solid lubricant. Engaging protrusions 230 are respectively formedaround the whole perimeter in the both end portions of the pre-load pad213 a in a condition protruding to the outer diameter side. Furthermore,the small diameter portion 68 provided on the tip end portion of theworm shaft 29 is freely inserted without play into a through hole 231formed in a condition passing axially through the center portion of thepre-load pad 213 a. The inner peripheral face of the through hole 231has a function as a sliding bearing for supporting the small diameterportion 68. Furthermore, on the inner peripheral face of the throughhole 231 on the worm shaft 29 base end side is provided a taper face 231which increases in diameter towards the open end.

Furthermore, in a condition with the main section (the coil section) ofthe torsion coil spring 30 a being the elastic body, externally fittedaround the pre-load pad 213 a, the pre-load pad 213 a is positioned onthe inside of the small diameter cylindrical portion 219 constitutingthe bearing holder 216. Here the space d₂₃₃ between the portions facingthe planar portions 233, on the inner peripheral face of the smalldiameter cylindrical portion 219, is made slightly larger than the outerdiameter of the engaging protrusions 230 provided on the pre-load pad213 a. In this condition, the pre-load pad 213 a is able to displace onthe inside of the small diameter cylindrical portion 219, until theouter peripheral rim of the protrusions 230 abuts against the innerperipheral face of the small diameter cylindrical portion 219.Furthermore, the pair of engaging portions 73 a on the opposite endportions of the torsion coil spring 30 a, provided in a condition bentradially outwards at two locations on diametrically opposite sides, areengaged in the pair of notches 222 a and 222 b formed in the planarportions 233 constituting the small diameter cylindrical portion 219. Ina condition with the torsion coil spring 30 a engaged with therespective notches 222 a and 222 b, the central position of the mainportion of the torsion coil spring 30 a is deviated to one end side (theupper end side in FIG. 42, 44) in the circumferential direction of therespective bearing holders 217. The bend portions 235 provided in therespective notches 222 a and 222 b have a function for preventing therespective engaging portions 73 a and 73 b from slipping out from therespective notches 222 a and 222 b.

Moreover, in a condition with the bearing holder 216, the fourth ballbearing 37, the pre-load pad 213 a and the torsion coil spring 30 a allassembled together in this manner, the bearing holder 216 is internallysecured in the concavity 72 (FIGS. 40 and 41) provided in the gearhousing 22. That is to say, the large diameter cylindrical portion 218of the bearing holder 216 is internally secured in a large diametercylindrical portion 226 on the open end side constituting the concavity72, and the elastic ring 224 is elastically compressed between the innerperipheral face of the large diameter cylindrical portion 226 of theconcavity 72, and the bottom face of the engaging groove 221.Furthermore, an approximately annular shape small gap 228 is formedbetween the inner peripheral face of a small diameter cylindricalportion 227 on the bottom face side constituting the concavity 72, andthe outer peripheral face of the small diameter cylindrical portion 219of the bearing holder 216. In this condition, the outer peripheral faceand at part of both axial side faces of the fourth ball bearing 37 arecovered by the bearing holder 216 to restrict axial displacement of thefourth ball bearing 37 with respect to the bearing holder 216, and axialdisplacement in the radial direction of the fourth ball bearing 37 withrespect to the bearing holder 216 within a predetermined range along theplanar portions 234 is permitted.

In this manner, a large diameter portion 63 provided on the portion nearthe tip end portion of the worm shaft 29 is loosely inserted on theinside of the bush 225 which is internally fitted to the fourth ballbearing 37 which is supported in the gear housing 22 via the bearingholder 216. Furthermore axial displacement of the large diameter portion63 with respect to the bush 225 is possible. Together with this, a smalldiameter portion 68 provided on the tip end portion of the worm shaft 29is inserted without play into the through hole 231 provided in thepre-load pad 213 a. By means of this construction, an elastic force isapplied to the tip end portion of the worm shaft 29, in a directiontowards the worm wheel 28 from the torsion coil spring 30 a via thepre-load pad 70. That is to say, in a condition before the tip endportion of the worm shaft 29 is inserted into the through hole 231provided in the pre-load pad 213 a, the central axis of the through hole231 is deviated to one side (the upper side in FIGS. 40 to 42) withrespect to the central axis of the holder 216 and the concavity 72.Then, accompanying insertion of the tip end portion of the worm shaft 29into the inside of the through hole 231, the diameter of the torsioncoil spring 30 a is elastically pressed and widened by means of theouter peripheral face of the pre-load pad 213 a. Then, the torsion coilspring 30 a tends to elastically return in the winding direction (thediameter is contracted), so that an elastic force is applied to the tipend portion of the worm shaft 29 from the torsion coil spring 30 a in adirection towards the worm wheel 28 via the pre-load pad 213 a. Due tothis construction, the distance between the central axes of the innershaft 18 to which the worm wheel 28 is externally secured, and the wormshaft 29, is elastically contracted. As a result, the teeth faces of theworm 27 of the worm shaft 29 and the worm wheel 28 are abutted togetherin a pre-loaded condition.

Moreover in the case of this example, the face directions (the directionparallel with the paper in FIGS. 40 and 41) of the matching faces of thecircumferentially opposite ends of the bearing holder elements 217constituting the bearing holder 216, are aligned with the directionwherein the elastic force is applied by the torsion coil spring 30 a tothe worm shaft 29. Different to this example, the circumferentiallyopposite end faces of the bearing holder elements 217 are not abuttedtogether, and a gap may be formed between these opposite end faces.Moreover in the case of this construction, the virtual plane passingthrough the gap portion preferably coincides with the direction ofapplying the elastic force.

In the above manner, in the case of the worm reduction gear of thisexample and the electric power steering apparatus equipped with this, bymeans of the torsion coil spring 30 a, an elastic force in the directiontowards the worm wheel 28 is applied to the tip end portion of the wormshaft 29 via the pre-load pad 213 a. Therefore, a pre-load can beapplied to the meshing portion between the worm wheel 28 and the worm 27of the worm shaft 29 with a low cost construction, and the generation ofthe teeth hitting noise at the meshing portion can be suppressed.Furthermore, in the case of this example, the pre-load applied to themeshing portion is readily maintained at a stable value over a limitednarrow range, irrespective of the force applied from the worm wheel 28to the worm shaft 29 in the axial direction. Therefore the generation ofthe teeth hitting noise at the meshing portion can be effectivelysuppressed.

That is to say, in the case of this example, axial displacement of theworm shaft 29 with respect to the pre-load pad 213 a for applying anelastic force to the worm shaft 29, and the fourth ball bearing 37 forsupporting the tip end portion of the worm shaft 29 is permitted.Therefore, even when a large reaction force is applied from the wormwheel 28 to the worm shaft 29 in the axial direction at the time ofoperating the electric motor 31, the pre-load pad 213 a and the fourthball bearing 37 are not pressed strongly against other members in theaxial direction of the worm shaft 29 by the reaction force.Consequently, by applying an elastic force to the worm shaft 29 with thetorsion coil spring 30 a via the pre-load pad 213 a, the pre-loadapplied to the meshing portion of the worm wheel 28 and the worm 27 ofthe worm shaft 29 can be prevented from fluctuating due to the effect ofthe reaction force. As a result, the pre-load can be readily maintainedat a stable value over a limited narrow range for a long period of time,and generation of the teeth hitting noise at the meshing portion can beeffectively suppressed.

Furthermore, since the bearing holder 216 which restricts displacementof the fourth ball bearing 37 is made from synthetic resin, thefrictional force acting between the fourth ball bearing 37 and thebearing holder 216 can be reduced, and the fourth ball bearing 37 can bereadily displaced in the radial direction. Therefore, generation of theteeth hitting noise at the meshing portion can be more effectivelysuppressed. Moreover, the outer peripheral face and part of both axialside faces of the fourth ball bearing 37 are covered by the bearingholder 216, and axial displacement of the fourth ball bearing 37 withrespect to the bearing holder 216 is restricted. Therefore, play in thefourth ball bearing 37 can be readily suppressed without pressing theworm shaft against the fourth ball bearing 37 in the axial direction.

In the case of this example, axial displacement of the fourth ballbearing 37 with respect to the bearing holder 216 is prevented, andradial displacement of the fourth ball bearing 37 in a predetermineddirection with respect to the bearing holder 216 is permitted.Therefore, in the case where the worm shaft 29 is oscillating-displacedwhile relatively displacing the worm shaft 29 and the fourth ballbearing 37 in the axial direction, sliding friction between the outerperipheral face of the worm shaft 29 and the inner peripheral face ofthe inner ring 65 of the fourth ball bearing 37 can be readily reduced,and the oscillating displacement can be readily performed in a smoothmanner. As a result, overall frictional losses can be reduced, and anappropriate pre-load can be readily applied to the meshing portion.

Moreover, in the case of this example, since the coil spring 224 isprovided between the bearing holder 216 and the gear housing 22, play inthe bearing holder 216 with respect to the gear housing 22 can bereadily suppressed. Therefore dimensional control of each part can bereadily performed, and meshing at the meshing portion can be readilymaintained in an appropriate condition. Moreover, when assembling thebearing holder 216 into the gear housing 22, the elastic ring 224 can beelastically compressed between the inner peripheral face of theconcavity 72 of the gear housing 22, and the bottom face of the engaginggroove 221 of the bearing holder 216. Therefore the operation ofassembling the bearing holder 216 can be performed while preventingfalling out of the bearing holder 216 from the concavity 72, and hencethe assembly of the bearing holder 216 can be readily performed.

Moreover in the case of this example, the bearing holder 216 is made upfrom a pair of bearing holder elements 217 having a shape obtained bydividing the bearing holder 216 in two by a virtual plane containing thecentral axis of the bearing holder 216. Therefore the fabricationoperation of the bearing holder elements 217 for obtaining the bearingholder 216 is simplified, and the operation for assembling the fourthball bearing 37 inside the bearing holder 216 is more readily performed.Moreover, the face directions of the matching faces of thecircumferentially opposite ends of the bearing holder elements 217, arealigned with the direction wherein the elastic force is applied by thetorsion coil spring 30 a to the worm shaft 29. Therefore in the casewhere the worm shaft 29 is oscillating displaced, it is difficult forthe radial displacement of the fourth ball bearing 37 to be obstructedby the bearing holder 216, so that the oscillating displacement of theworm shaft 29 can be more readily performed.

Furthermore, in the case of this example, the engaging protrusions 230protruding to the outer diameter side are provided on the outerperipheral face on both axial sides of the pre-load pad 213 a. Thereforethe torsion coil spring 30 a can be kept from falling off from the outerperipheral face of the pre-load pad 213, and displacement of the torsioncoil spring 30 a in relation to the axial direction of the pre-load pad213 can be restrained. Other construction and operation is the same asfor the case of the first example shown in FIGS. 1 to 9, and hence thesame parts are denoted by the same reference symbols and repeateddescription is omitted.

A difference to the case of this example is that the bearing holder 216is constructed as a single member, rather than being constructed byabutting together bearing holders 217 being separate members, and anotch is provided along the entire length in the axial direction in onepart around the circumferential direction of this single member. In thiscase of this configuration, the diameter of the bearing holder 216 canbe elastically widely expanded, so that the operation of assembling thefourth bearing 37 into the bearing holder 216 to restrict axialdisplacement of the fourth bearing 37 can be readily performed.Moreover, dimensional errors and assembly errors in parts providedsurrounding the bearing holder 216 can be readily absorbed by thebearing holder 216. Furthermore, even if the temperature in the vicinityvaries, dimensional changes are absorbed by the notched part provided inthe bearing holder 216, and dimensional changes other than at the notchof the bearing holder 216 can be suppressed.

Furthermore, the elastic member may be provided between the bearingholder 216 and the fourth ball bearing 37. In the case of thisconstruction, play in fourth ball bearing 37 with respect to bearingholder 216, can be readily suppressed. Therefore dimensional control ofeach part can be readily performed, and meshing at the meshing portioncan be readily maintained in an appropriate condition. Moreover, theoperation of assembling the fourth ball bearing 37 into the bearingholder 216 can be performed while compressing the elastic member betweenthe bearing holder 216 and the fourth ball bearing 37. Therefore at thetime of the assembling operation, the fourth ball bearing 37 can be keptfrom falling out from inside the bearing holder 216, and hence theassembly operation for the fourth ball bearing 37 can be readilyperformed.

In the case of the abovementioned fifteenth example, the case isdescribed for where the pinion secured to the end of the pinion shaft 10(refer to FIGS. 1 and 46) and the rack 12 (refer to FIG. 46) aredirectly meshed with each other. However the present invention is notlimited to such a construction. For example, the construction of thepresent examples may be assembled together with a so called VariableGear Ratio Steering (VGS) mechanism wherein a pin provided on a bottomend of the pinion shaft is engaged in an elongate hole of a pinion gearprovided on a different body to the pinion shaft so as to be free tomove in the lengthwise direction of the elongate hole, and the piniongear and the rack are meshed, so that the ratio of the displacementamount of the rack with respect to the rotation angle of the steeringshaft is changed corresponding to speed.

Moreover, the present invention is not limited to the construction wherean electric motor is provided surrounding the steering shaft 2. Forexample, the present invention can also be implemented with aconstruction where, as shown in FIG. 15, the electric motor 31 isprovided on a portion in the vicinity of the pinion 11 (refer to FIG.46) which is meshed with the rack 12. In the case of such a constructionshown in FIG. 15, the worm wheel constituting the worm reduction gear 16is secured to the pinion 11 or a part of a member supported on thepinion 11. In the case of such a construction shown in FIG. 15, a torquesensor 3 (refer to FIG. 46) may be provided not surrounding the steeringshaft 2, but on a portion in the vicinity of the pinion 11.

Moreover the present invention can also be implemented with theconstruction shown before in FIG. 16, where the electric motor 31 isprovided on a part of the rack 12 in the vicinity of a sub pinion 75which is meshed at a position away from the engaging portion with thepinion 11. In the case of the construction shown in FIG. 16, a wormwheel secured to the sub pinion 75 is meshed with the worm shaft 29. Inthe construction shown in FIG. 16 also, the torque sensor 3 (refer toFIG. 46) can be provided on a portion in the vicinity of the pinion 11.In the construction shown in FIG. 46, a shock absorber 76 is provided ina central portion of the intermediate shaft 8 to prevent vibration whichis transmitted from the ground by the vehicle wheels to the pinion 11,from being transmitted to the steering wheel 1. This shock absorber 76is constructed for example by assembling the inner shaft and the outershaft in telescopic form, and connecting an elastic member between theend peripheral faces of these two shafts.

In this way, the assist shaft of the present invention, may be anymember of; the steering shaft, the pinion or a sub pinion which mesheswith the rack at a position separated from the pinion.

Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to the constructionwhere the rotor phase detector for switching the direction of theenergizing current supplied to the coil 45, constituting the electricmotor 31 is made from a brush 48 and a commutator 46 (refer to FIGS. 2and 3). For example as shown in FIG. 17, the rotor phase detector may beconstructed from a Hall IC 77 and an encoder 78 of a permanent magnettype secured to the rotation shaft 32, and the electric motor 31 may beof a so called brushless construction. Moreover, in the case of theaforementioned construction shown in FIG. 17, the stator 39 a may bemade up from a core 82 of a laminated steel plate type secured to theouter peripheral face of a case 23, and a coil 83 wound at a pluralityof locations on the core 82, and the rotor 38 may comprise a permanentmagnet 84 secured to a central outer peripheral face of the rotationshaft 32. In the case where such a construction is adopted, themagnetism of the stator 39 a can also be switched by providing a vectorcontrol unit for controlling an increase or decrease in the magnitude ofthe current flowing to the stator 39 a.

Furthermore, in the case of the abovementioned fifteenth example, thedescription has been for where the worm reduction gear is assembled intoan electric power steering apparatus. However the worm reduction gear ofthe present invention is not limited to one employed for such a use, andfor example can also be used in combination with an electric linearactuator assembled into various types of mechanical equipment such as anelectric bed, an electric table, an electric chair, a lifter and so on.For example, in the case where the worm reduction gear is assembled intothis electric linear actuator, the output of the electric motor isreduced by the worm reduction gear, and then taken out to the rotationshaft, and an output shaft provided surrounding this rotation shaft isextended and contracted via a ball screw. The present invention can alsobe applied to a worm reduction gear assembled into such an electriclinear actuator.

1. A worm reduction gear comprising a worm wheel, a worm shaft and anelastic body, wherein the elastic body applies an elastic force to theworm shaft in a direction towards the worm wheel via a pre-load pad, andthe worm wheel is fixed freely to an assist shaft, and opposite ends ofthe worm shaft are supported on the inside of a gear housing by a pairof bearings, and a worm provided in an intermediate portion of the wormshaft meshes with the worm wheel, and displacement of the pre-load padin relation to a predetermined direction, is restricted by a guide faceprovided on the gear housing or on a member fixed to the gear housing,the pre-load pad having a substantially non-circular inner peripheralface resulting in that a clearance between the pre-load and the guideface is either eliminated or reduced by elastic deformation of thepre-load pad itself based on an elastic force of the elastic body.
 2. Aworm reduction gear according to claim 1, wherein a direction ofpossible displacement of the pre-load pad along the guide face isinclined with respect to a virtual plane containing the central axis ofthe worm shaft and meshing portion between the worm provided on the wormshaft and the worm wheel.
 3. An electric power steering apparatuscomprising: a steering shaft provided at a rear end portion thereof witha steering wheel; a pinion provided on a front end side of the steeringshaft, a rack meshed with the pinion or with a member supported on thepinion; a worm reduction gear according to claim 1; an electric motorfor rotatably driving the worm shaft; a torque sensor for detecting thedirection and magnitude of a torque applied to the steering shaft orpinion; and a controller for controlling a drive status of the electricmotor based on a signal input from the torque sensor, and the assistshaft is a member being the steering shaft, the pinion, or a sub-pinionmeshing with the rack at a position separated from the pinion.
 4. Anelectric power steering apparatus comprising: a steering shaft providedat a rear end portion thereof with a steering wheel; a pinion providedon a front end side of the steering shaft, a rack meshed with the pinionor with a member supported on the pinion; a worm reduction gearaccording to claim 2; an electric motor for rotatably driving the wormshaft; a torque sensor for detecting the direction and magnitude of atorque applied to the steering shaft or pinion; and a controller forcontrolling a drive status of the electric motor based on a signal inputfrom the torque sensor, and the assist shaft is a member being thesteering shaft, the pinion, or a sub-pinion meshing with the rack at aposition separated from the pinion.
 5. A worm reduction gear comprisinga worm wheel, a worm shaft and an elastic body, wherein the elastic bodyapplies an elastic force to the worm shaft in a direction towards theworm wheel via a pre-load pad, and the worm wheel is fixed freely to anassist shaft, and opposite ends of the worm shaft are supported on theinside of a gear housing by a pair of bearings, and a worm provided inan intermediate portion of the worm shaft meshes with the worm wheel,and displacement of the pre-load pad in relation to a predetermineddirection, is restricted by a guide face provided on one of the gearhousing and a member fixed to the gear housing, the pre-load pad havingan inner peripheral face defining a recess portion for facilitatingdeformation thereof, a clearance between the pre-load pad and the guideface being at least reduced by elastic deformation of the pre-load padbased on an elastic force of the elastic body.